VTE risk after antipsychotic drug use

There is conjecture regarding a possible association between use of antipsychotic drugs and the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Researchers from the USA recently published research that compared the incidence of antipsychotic use in patients who developed a VTE versus those who did not. Subjects aged <18 years, those who were pregnant during the study, and those with current or previous malignancy were excluded from the analysis, and the odds ratio was calculated controlling for age, gender, obesity, and smoking. 7079 patients were studied, and 314 developed a VTE – 45 were exposed to an antipsychotic prior to the event. Nearly 25% of patients receiving an antipsychotic did not have a primary psychiatric diagnosis. Antipsychotic use was significantly associated with increased risk of VTE development (OR = 1.481 [95% CI = 1.067 to 2.055]). This study adds to the weight of evidence to suggest that a very judicious approach to the use of antipsychotic drugs should be standard practice, particularly amongst people without an established psychiatric diagnosis. Details of the study, published in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, can be viewed here.