Objective
This study investigated which comorbidities or comedications increased the probability of receiving quetiapine extended‐release formulation (quetiapine XR) as an add‐on treatment.
Methods
Danish administrative registers were used as data sources. The study period was from 01 January 2011 to 01 July 2017. New users of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), atypical antidepressants (AAD), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) aged ≥65 years were included in the study population. A multivariable Cox regression model was used to find predictors for receiving quetiapine XR add‐on within the first year of antidepressant therapy.
Results
A total of 123 655 new users of SSRI, SNRI, TCA, and AAD were eligible. The study population was composed of 57.7% females and the mean age was 77.2 years (SD 7.9 years). SSRI users comprised 49.6% of the study population. Among users of antidepressants, 171 (0.14%) patients received quetiapine XR as add‐on treatment. In the adjusted analyses, female patients (HR 0.70; 95%CI 0.52‐0.95) and glucocorticoid users (HR 0.41; 95%CI 0.21‐0.80) had a significantly lower hazard of receiving quetiapine XR. Patients with dementia (HR 2.43; 95%CI 1.52‐3.87) had a significantly higher hazard of receiving quetiapine XR than patients without this condition. When compared with SSRI users, AAD (HR 1.80; 95%CI 1.31‐2.46) and TCA users (HR 0.18; 95%CI 0.06‐0.49) had an increased/reduced hazard of receiving quetiapine XR, respectively.
Conclusions
This study suggests that the choice of prescribing quetiapine add‐on is driven by patient’s differences in comorbidities, comedications and the type of antidepressant drug.