title: Calcaneal bone mineral density in young adults prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several previous studies have reported both an association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and decreased bone mineral density and increased fractures, but no previous studies have specifically evaluated bone health in young adults who have a history of SSRI use.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to characterize the effect SSRI use in early adulthood on bone mineral density.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on subjects who voluntarily responded to recruitment methods for the study. Young adults aged 18 to 25 years who were currently or had previously taken an SSRI for a minimum of 3 consecutive months were included in the study. A subject interview was conducted on each patient to collect background information. Each subject's calcaneal bone mineral density was then measured with an ultrasonometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete data were collected on 51 subjects. The median duration of SSRI use was 24 ± 54 months. A significant negative correlation was observed between SSRI duration and calcaneal ultrasound T-score (r = -0.53, P < 0.001) which was unchanged in depressed subjects. Subjects on continuous SSRIs for >24 months had a significantly lower median T-score (0.30 ± 0.93) than subjects taking SSRIs for ≤ 24 months (0.90 ± 0.81; P = 0.0010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this young relatively healthy population who were following most of the recommendations to improve bone health, a significant negative correlation was observed between the duration of SSRI use and bone mineral density. Subjects who were on SSRIs for longer than 24 months had a significantly lower T-score. Further large scale longitudinal studies are needed in this younger population to determine the effects of chronic SSRI use on bone health.
authors: School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas. Electronic address: charles.seifert@ttuhsc.edu.
authors: Charles F
authors: CF
authors: Seifert
authors: Tara R
authors: TR
authors: Wiltrout
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: bone health; drugs; osteoporosis; osteoporosis screening; patient safety; serotonin reuptake inhibitors; young adults