The effect of combined treatment with SSRIs and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) drugs: A propensity score matched cohort study

Abstract

Drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may have beneficial effects on mental health. We investigated whether use of drugs acting on the RAS, as add-on to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), was associated with a reduced risk of psychiatric hospital contacts. We identified all individuals initiating treatment with an SSRI between 1997 and 2012. Individuals using an SSRI without concomitant use of a RAS drug (SSRI-only users) were propensity score matched 1:1 to individuals using both an SSRI and a drug acting on the RAS (SSRI+RAS users). The SSRI-only and SSRI+RAS users were followed for up to three years or until December 31, 2013. We performed Cox proportional hazar..