Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25966843›Full record

ArticleBritish journal of clinical pharmacology2015

Use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and the heart rate corrected QT interval in a real-life setting: the population-based Rotterdam Study.

Nevena M Maljuric, Raymond Noordam, Nikkie Aarts, Maartje N Niemeijer, Marten E van den Berg, Albert Hofman, Jan A Kors, Bruno H Stricker, Loes E Visser

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in British journal of clinical pharmacology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed
3.0field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 43 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Trial
  3. Review
  4. Beyond the Heart: The Significance of Depression in Cardiac Surgery.European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery · 2025
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
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  10. Review
  11. Clinically significant incidental QTc prolongation is subject to within-individual variability.Annals of noninvasive electrocardiology : the official journal of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Inc · 2020
    Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. The Rotterdam Study: 2016 objectives and design update.European journal of epidemiology · 2015
    Article
  18. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Nevena M MaljuricDepartment of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Raymond NoordamDepartment of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Nikkie AartsDepartment of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Maartje N NiemeijerDepartment of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Marten E van den BergDepartment of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Albert HofmanDepartment of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Jan A KorsDepartment of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Bruno H StrickerDepartment of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Loes E VisserDepartment of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Apotheek Haagse Ziekenhuizen · NLDutch Health Care Inspectorate · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsSelective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), specifically citalopram and escitalopram, are thought to cause QTc prolongation, although studies have shown contradictory results. Nevertheless, a maximum citalopram dosage of 20 mg in high risk patients (e.g. >60 years of age) is recommended. We aimed to investigate the association between use of (individual) SSRIs and QTc in a population-based study in older adults.

methodsThis study, which was part of the prospective Rotterdam Study (period 1991-2012), included participants with up to five electrocardiograms (ECGs). We used linear mixed models to compare QTc F (QT corrected according to Fridericia) measured during use of individual SSRIs with QTc F measured during non-use of any antidepressant. For citalopram, analyses were additionally restricted to a maximum dosage of 20 mg in participants aged 60 years and older.

resultsWe included 12 589 participants with a total of 26 620 ECGs of which 436 ECGs were made during SSRI use. The mean QTc F was similar during use of any drugs from the SSRI class and during non-use. After stratifying to individual SSRIs, ECGs recorded during use of citalopram had the longest QTc compared with ECGs recorded during non-use (+12.8 ms, 90% CI 7.5, 18.2). This result remained similar in the analysis comprising participants aged 60 years and older with a maximum prescribed daily dosage of 20 mg citalopram.

conclusionsAlthough no SSRI class effect was observed, use of citalopram was associated with a longer QTc F, even after considering the recommended restrictions. Other SSRIs may not give a clinically relevant QTc F prolongation.

Indexed as

Heart RateAgedCitalopramCross-Sectional StudiesDatabases, FactualDrug UtilizationElectrocardiographyFemaleHealth SurveysHumansLongitudinal StudiesLong QT SyndromeMaleMiddle AgedNetherlandsSelective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsCitalopramSelective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitorselectrocardiographypopulation surveillanceserotonin re-uptake inhibitors

Identifiers

PMID25966843
PMCPMC4594706
OpenAlexW1499218865

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.