Key result
Antipsychotic drug use was associated with a significantly higher risk of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism, with an odds ratio of 10.49.
Why the study?
Does antipsychotic drug use increase the risk of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism in patients undergoing forensic autopsy for sudden unexpected death?
Observational (n=1,125)
No
Does antipsychotic drug use increase the risk of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism in patients undergoing forensic autopsy for sudden unexpected death?
Odds Ratio: 10.49 (95% CI 3.95–27.85)
Absolute Event Rate: 23.5% vs 1.8%
p-value: p=<0.01
Antipsychotic drug use is associated with a more than 10-fold increased risk of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism in a Japanese forensic autopsy cohort, with a particular risk noted in women.
May warrant VTE vigilance in antipsychotic users; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective confirmation beyond forensic cohorts.
BACKGROUND: There may be an increased risk of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) with antipsychotic drugs, so this association was investigated in autopsy cases of sudden unexpected death determined by the Department of Legal Medicine of a Japanese university hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: Records of 1,125 forensic autopsies (808 males, 317 females) performed during the study period for investigation of the cause of sudden unexpected death were reviewed and a logistic regression analysis was performed to explore whether age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and antipsychotic drug use were associated with fatal PTE. Among all records, 34 (3.0%; 14 males, 20 females) indicated the use of antipsychotic drugs and 28 (2.5%; 9 males, 19 females) indicated PTE as the cause of death. Of the 28 subjects who died from PTE, 8 had taken antipsychotic drugs (29%) and all were female. Female gender and antipsychotic drug use accounted for a significantly higher risk of PTE death with an odds ratio of 4.22 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.82-9.78; p<0.01) and 10.49 (95% CI, 3.95-27.85; p<0.01), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese women taking antipsychotic drugs may be at particular risk for PTE.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hamanaka et al. (2004) conducted an observational in Sudden unexpected death (n=1,125). Antipsychotic drug use vs. No antipsychotic drug use was evaluated on Fatal pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) (OR 10.49, 95% CI 3.95-27.85, p=<0.01). Antipsychotic drug use was associated with a significantly higher risk of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism, with an odds ratio of 10.49.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: