Risk of mortality associated with antipsychotic and other neuropsychiatric drugs in pneumonia patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of typical and atypical antipsychotic medications and associated in-hospital mortality in a group of Veterans Administration (VA) patients with pneumonia.


METHODS
Our cohort consisted of 14,057 VA patients admitted for pneumonia in fiscal year (FY) 2003. Exposure to typical and atypical antipsychotics and other neuropsychiatric drugs was based on a prescription within 120 days preceding admission. Multivariate models determined the odds of mortality associated with each drug class and risk adjusted for comorbidity, admission source, demographic factors, and concurrent mental health conditions. The referent group for each analysis was pneumonia patients not receiving neuropsychiatric drugs.


RESULTS
In adjusted analyses, the odds of in-hospital mortality for VA patients admitted with pneumonia was higher for recent exposure to typical antipsychotics (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.04-2.19; P = 0.03) when compared to patients not receiving neuropsychiatric medications. Patients exposed to atypical antipsychotics (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.96-1.50, P = .10), tricyclic antidepressants (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.44-1.55; P = 0.15), other antidepressants (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.93-1.23; P = 0.37), or mood stabilizers (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.73-1.14; P = 0.41) had no significant difference in in-hospital mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of recent safety concerns for atypical antipsychotics, we found no increased risk of mortality in acutely ill pneumonia patients. Rather, we found a higher adjusted mortality rate for patients taking typical antipsychotics. The contrasting mortality risks for patients taking typical and atypical antipsychotics may represent unmeasured severity of illness or comorbidity. Regardless, any antipsychotics should be used with caution and the efficacy and safety of alternative agents should be considered.
Barnett
Mitchell J
MJ
The Center for Research in the Implementation of Innovative Strategies in Practice, Iowa City Veterans Administration Hospital, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA. barnettm@mail.medicine.uiowa.edu
Perry
Paul J
PJ
Alexander
Bruce
B
Kaboli
Peter J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents