Antidepressant use and colorectal cancer risk: a Danish population-based case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Earlier research suggests that use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), but not tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), reduces the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
We conducted a population-based case-control study to investigate the association between antidepressant use and CRC risk. Cases were diagnosed with a first primary CRC from 1991 through 2008. We selected 10 population controls matched to cases on sex, birth year, and residence from the Danish Civil Registration System using risk-set sampling. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associating antidepressant use with colorectal cancer occurrence, controlling for potential confounders.


RESULTS
The study included 9,979 cases and 99,790 controls. We found no notable reduction in CRC risk in ever users (≥2 prescriptions) of TCAs (OR=0.94; 95% CI: 0.84, 1.05), SSRIs (OR=0.97; 95% CI: 0.90, 1.05), or other antidepressants (OR=0.95; 95% CI: 0.83, 1.07). Associations for recent and former use of antidepressants were also near null. Intensity of antidepressant use (number of pills divided by total duration of use), regardless of duration, was not associated with CRC risk.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no evidence that antidepressant use substantially reduces the risk of colorectal cancer.
Cronin-Fenton
D P
DP
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Olof Palmes Alle 43-45, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark. dc@dce.au.dk
Riis
A H
AH
Lash
T L
TL
Dalton
S O
SO
Friis
S
S
Robertson
D
D
Sørensen
H T
HT
D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents