Antidepressants use in Italy: an ecological study of national and regional trends and associated factors

Uncovering antidepressant prescription patterns: a three-year analysis of outpatient trends

BACKGROUND

Antidepressants (ADs) are prescribed for various conditions, including neurological and rheumatoid diseases. This study aims to analyze ADs prescribing trends in Iranian outpatients over three years, with a focus on age, sex, and ADs class.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using prescription data from the Iranian Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) between March 2021 and March 2024. The dataset included 8,924,431 prescriptions from 3,524,273 patients who received at least one ADs. ADs were classified into four groups: tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and atypical ADs. The data were processed via the cross-industry standard process for data mining and analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model.

RESULTS

SSRIs were the most commonly prescribed class, accounting for 63.71% of prescriptions, with sertraline being the most common drug (24.65%). Females accounted for 66.11% of the patient population. ADs prescriptions increased with age, and females were more likely to receive TCAs and SNRIs than males, who had higher rates of atypical ADs use.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed a notable increase in ADs prescriptions in Iran, particularly among women and older individuals. Continued monitoring of ADs prescription is crucial for optimizing outcomes, especially for vulnerable groups such as elderly individuals.

Sleep bruxism (SB) may be not associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): A comprehensive assessment employing a systematic review and meta-analysis

Associations between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep bruxism (SB) are the subject of discussion but have not been confirmed definitively. Therefore, the objective of this meta-analysis was to examine the relationship between OSA and SB. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were screened up to February 2024. The risk of bias was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. 2260 records were identified, but only 14 studies were included. The odds of SB presence in OSA did not differ from the control group (OR: 1.23, 95 % CI: 0.47-3.20). The chance of SB compared to controls also did not differ in mild OSA (OR: 1.56, 95 % CI: 0.76-3.18), in moderate OSA (OR: 1.51, 95 % CI: 0.77-2.94) and in severe OSA (OR: 1.50, 95 % CI: 0.68-3.29). Additionally, the odds of SB were not increased in moderate OSA in comparison to mild OSA (OR: 1.14, 95 % CI: 0.63-2.94), in severe OSA compared to moderate OSA (OR: 1.31, 95 % CI: 0.61-2.79) or in severe OSA compared to mild OSA (OR = 1.42, 95 % CI: 0.69-2.93). The presence of SB in OSA did not differ between genders (OR: 2.14, 95 % CI: 0.65-7.05). The quality of the major studies included is low; therefore, the noted lack of correlation between OSA and SB may require further research. The relationship between OSA and SB seems to be multi-faceted. Presented results should not exempt clinicians from exact diagnosis of concomitant sleep conditions in OSA subjects.