A multicenter, retrospective study of the current status of antidepressant prescription use in outpatient settings in China

Abstract

Background: Antidepressant prescribing has increased dramatically worldwide in recent years. Analyzing antidepressants in real-world settings can provide valuable data to support clinicians and health policymakers. Aim: This study used an extensive data set to examine the status and trends in antidepressant prescribing among the Chinese Han population from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2022. Method: A retrospective study was conducted in three hospitals. Data were collected 2.5 years before and 2.5 years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed the number of patients diagnosed with depression and the corresponding antidepressant prescriptions. To explore the characteristics of antidepressant use across different ages and sexes, stratified analyses were performed using the chi-square test. Results: The study included 124,355 patients, and 400,840 antidepressant prescriptions were collected. Fluctuating upward trends were observed in the number of patients and antidepressant drugs. The three most frequently prescribed antidepressants were citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline. Significant differences in antidepressant use were observed by sex and age. The number of patients after the COVID-19 pandemic increased by 37.1% compared to the pre-pandemic period, and the number of antidepressant prescriptions rose by 88.3%. Antidepressant monotherapy represented 76.6% of the prescriptions. The most common combination involved antidepressants and anxiolytics. Conclusion: Over the past five years, the number of patients and antidepressant prescriptions has shown upward trends. Citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline are currently the leading antidepressants used in outpatient treatment of depressive disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected clinic visits and antidepressant prescriptions for patients with depression.