Approximately 45.2% of older adults diagnosed with depression did not receive any treatment within the first 90 days, according to a recent study

Researchers examined the association between first-line antidepressant treatments and the risk of falls and related injuries (FRI) in older adults diagnosed with depression. The study analyzed Medicare claims data from 101,953 beneficiaries aged 65 years and older. The findings indicate that first-line antidepressants were associated with a decreased risk of FRI compared to no treatment.

Key results, published in JAMA Network Open, demonstrated that the incidence of FRI was lower among patients receiving first-line antidepressants. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for FRI were as follows: 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-0.89) for bupropion and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.67-0.98) for escitalopram. Conversely, psychotherapy alone did not significantly impact FRI risk (aHR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.82-1.17). The overall incidence of FRI was 87 per 1,000 person-years in the untreated group, while those treated with bupropion experienced a lower incidence of 63 per 1,000 person-years.

The study indicated that approximately 45.2% of older adults diagnosed with depression went without treatment during the initial 90 days following their diagnosis. Additionally, the results indicate that first-line antidepressants were associated with lower the risk of falls, offering useful insights for clinicians in determining appropriate treatment options for this demographic.

Potential conflicts of interest are disclosed in the published study.