Case-Control Study Investigating the Association Between Use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate whether use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) was associated with pulmonary tuberculosis.

METHODS

The case-control study was conducted to analyze the database between 2000 and 2013. Patients aged 20 to 84 years with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis were selected as the cases (n = 8593). Participants without pulmonary tuberculosis were selected as the controls (n = 43 472). Patients who never had a prescription for SSRIs were defined as never use. Those who ever had a prescription for SSRIs were defined as ever use.

RESULTS

The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of pulmonary tuberculosis was 1.03 for patients with ever use of SSRIs (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-1.14), compared to never use. The adjusted OR of pulmonary tuberculosis was 1.00 for patients with increasing cumulative duration of SSRI use for every 1 month (95% CI: 0.99-1.00), compared to never use. The adjusted OR of pulmonary tuberculosis was 0.99 for patients with increasing cumulative dosage of SSRI use for every 1 mg (95% CI: 0.99-1.00), compared to never use.

CONCLUSION

No significant association can be detected between SSRI use and pulmonary tuberculosis in Taiwan. No duration-dependent effect or dose-dependent effect of SSRIs use can be detected on the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis.