Sudden cardiac death is one of the most serious heart-related emergencies. It happens when the heart suddenly stops beating properly, often without much warning.
In many cases, a person can collapse and die within a short period of time after symptoms begin. Among younger adults, sudden cardiac death is often caused by inherited heart conditions or problems with the heart’s electrical system.
In older adults, it is more commonly linked to coronary artery disease, a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked.
Scientists have known for many years that people living with mental health conditions often face a higher risk of physical health problems, including heart disease. Research has also shown that they are more likely to die prematurely compared with the general population.
One particularly concerning finding is that people with mental health disorders appear to have a much greater risk of sudden cardiac death. However, researchers have not fully understood how antidepressant medications may influence this risk.
A new study presented at EHRA 2025, a major scientific meeting organized by the European Society of Cardiology, provides new information on this issue. The research was carried out in Denmark and suggests that people who use antidepressants for many years may have a higher risk of sudden cardiac death than people who have never used these medications.
Antidepressants are commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety disorders, and several other mental health conditions.
These medicines can be highly effective and often help people manage symptoms, improve daily functioning, and maintain a better quality of life. Because many people take antidepressants for extended periods, understanding their long-term effects is important.
The Danish researchers examined medical records and death certificates from residents aged 18 to 90 years who died during 2010. They analyzed information from a population of about 4.3 million people. Their goal was to determine how many deaths were caused by sudden cardiac death and whether the individuals had a history of antidepressant use.
For the study, antidepressant exposure was defined as filling at least two antidepressant prescriptions within a single year during the twelve years before 2010. The researchers then divided people into two groups. One group had used antidepressants for one to five years, while the other group had used them for six years or longer.
The results showed that nearly 46,000 people died during 2010. More than 6,000 of these deaths were classified as sudden cardiac death. Among those who died suddenly from heart-related causes, around 2,000 people had a history of antidepressant use.
When the researchers compared antidepressant users with people who had never used the medications, they found a clear difference in risk. Individuals who had used antidepressants for one to five years had a 56% higher risk of sudden cardiac death.
Those who had taken the medications for six years or longer had more than twice the risk compared with people who had never used antidepressants.
The increased risk was particularly noticeable among middle-aged adults. In people aged 30 to 39 years, those who had used antidepressants for one to five years were about three times more likely to die from sudden cardiac death than non-users.
For people in the same age group who had used antidepressants for six years or longer, the risk was approximately five times higher.
A similar pattern was seen among people aged 50 to 59 years. In this group, shorter-term antidepressant use was linked to about twice the risk of sudden cardiac death, while long-term use was associated with roughly four times the risk.
The differences became less pronounced in older age groups. Among people aged 70 to 79 years, the risk remained elevated, but the gap between shorter and longer durations of antidepressant use was smaller.
In people younger than 30 years and older than 80 years, the study did not find a statistically significant difference between shorter-term and longer-term use.
According to Dr. Jasmin Mujkanovic from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, the findings suggest that the number of years a person is exposed to antidepressants may play an important role. People who had used antidepressants for six years or more appeared to face a greater risk than those who had used them for a shorter period.
The researchers emphasized that the study does not prove that antidepressants directly cause sudden cardiac death. There may be several explanations for the findings. Some antidepressants may have effects on the heart that could contribute to risk in certain individuals.
Another possibility is that people who need antidepressants for many years may have more severe or long-lasting mental health conditions, which themselves could increase the risk of heart disease.
Mental health disorders can also affect lifestyle habits. People struggling with depression or other conditions may be less physically active, have poorer diets, smoke more often, experience chronic stress, or be less likely to attend regular medical checkups. All of these factors can influence heart health over time.
The study highlights the need for further research to understand why this association exists and whether certain antidepressants carry different levels of risk. It also reinforces the importance of monitoring cardiovascular health in people who take antidepressants for many years.
At the same time, experts stress that patients should not stop taking antidepressants without consulting their doctor. These medications can provide major benefits and may be essential for managing serious mental health conditions.
Any decision about starting, stopping, or changing treatment should be made together with a healthcare professional who can weigh the benefits and risks for each individual.
The findings presented at EHRA 2025 add to growing evidence that mental and physical health are closely connected. They also remind doctors and patients of the importance of taking a long-term view of overall health, including both emotional wellbeing and heart health.
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