{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Common mental health diagnoses arising from or coinciding with menopausal transition and prescribing of SSRIs/SNRIs medications and other psychotropic medications.
{Author}: Alsugeir D;Adesuyan M;Talaulikar V;Wei L;Whittlesea C;Brauer R;
{Journal}: J Affect Disord
{Volume}: 364
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Nov 1
{Factor}: 6.533
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.036
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Women with menopausal transition (MT) have an elevated risk of experiencing common mental health diagnoses (CMHD: depression or anxiety). There is no recent data comparing the rate, and treatment, of CMHD between men and women.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>In this population-based study, incidence rates (IR) per 100 person-years-at-risk (PYAR) for men and women ≥45 years registered with an UK primary care practice between 2010 and 2021 were estimated. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of CMHD were estimated using men as a reference. We measured first prescriptions for psychotropic medications received within 12 months after CMHD. For selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) /selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), we measured the IR of prescribing per 100 PYAR, by 10-year bands. Proportion of SSRIs/SNRIs prescribing was estimated per 100 persons.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Rates of anxiety and depressive disorders were 1.68 and 1.69 per 100 PYAR in women aged 45-54 years-old compared to 0.91 and 1.20 per 100 PYAR in men, with IRR of 1.84 (95 % CI 1.72-1.97) and 1.44 (1.35-1.53) respectively. SSRIs/SNRIs were the most prescribed medication; in 2021, IRs for SSRIs/SNRIs were 13.4 per 100 PYAR in both sexes. In 2021, the proportion of SSRIs/SNRIs prescribing was 50.67 per 100 women and 41.91 per 100 men.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>MT is assumed based on women's age as menopause onset is rarely recorded in primary care databases.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Women ≥45 years experienced more CMHD compared to men, especially 45-54 years-olds, which coincides with MT. The proportion of SSRIs/SNRIs prescribing was higher in women.