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Apnea Linked with Nonresponse to Antidepressants
Depress Anxiety; ePub 2016 Sep 16; Waterman, et al
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may impair response to antidepressant pharmacotherapy in depressed older adults, a recent study found. Researchers conducted a multisite study of 468 adults ≥60 years with major depressive disorder and a Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of ≥15. They found:
• 80 participants (17.1%) reported a diagnosis of OSA prior to baseline.
• Participants with OSA were more likely to be male, report greater impairment on measures of health, experience a longer duration of the index episode, and receive an adequate antidepressant trial prior to entering the study.
• Participants without OSA were 1.79 times more likely to respond to treatment compared to those with OSA.
Waterman L, Stahl ST, Buysse DJ, et al. Self-reported obstructive sleep apnea is associated with nonresponse to antidepressant pharmacotherapy in late-life depression. [Published online ahead of print September 16, 2016]. Depress Anxiety. doi:10.1002/da.22555.