Prevalence of antidepressant use in Brazil: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Author(s)

Gustavo Magno Baldin Tiguman ^[1] ; Rogério Hoefler ^[2] ; Marcus Tolentino Silva ^[3] ; Vanessa Gomes Lima ^[4] ; Inês Ribeiro-Vaz ^[5] ; Taís Freire Galvão ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas - Brasil

^[2] Universidade do Porto. Informação e Decisão em Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Medicina da Comunidade - Portugal

^[3] Universidade de Brasília. Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde. Departamento de Saúde Coletiva - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas - Brasil

^[5] Universidade do Porto. Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina. Unidade de Farmacovigilância do Porto - Portugal

^[6] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria; v. 46, 2024-04-26.

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of antidepressant use in Brazil. Methods: We conducted a systematic review with searches in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, LILACS, and SciELO up to May 2023. Two researchers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality. We pooled the prevalence of antidepressant use using meta-analyses of proportions (Freeman-Tukey transformation) and estimated heterogeneity by the I2 statistic. OR meta-analyses of antidepressant use by sex were calculated (men as reference) and between-study variation was explored by meta-regressions. Results: Out of 3,299 records retrieved, 23 studies published in 28 reports were included, with a total of 75,061 participants. The overall prevalence of antidepressant use was 4.0% (95%CI 2.7-5.6%; I2 = 98.5%). Use of antidepressants in the previous 3 days was higher in women (12.0%; 95%CI 9.5-15.1%; I2 = 0%) than men (4.6%; 95%CI 3.1-6.8%; I2 = 0%) (p < 0.001; OR = 2.82; 95%CI 1.72-4.62). Gender differences were particularly higher for antidepressant use in the previous year (women: 2.3%; 95%CI 1.6-3.1; I2 = 37.6% vs. men: 0.5%; 95%CI 0.2-1.0%; I2 = 0%, p < 0.001; OR = 4.18; 95%CI 2.10-8.30). Between-study variation in the overall prevalence of antidepressant use significantly increased with mean participant age (p = 0.035; residual I2 = 0%; regression coefficient = 0.003). Conclusion: Four out of every 100 Brazilians used antidepressants in this 3-decade assessment. Use increased with age and was more prevalent in women compared to men. Registration number: PROSPERO CRD42022345332. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/14960-0 - Use of antidepressants by adults: prevalence and trends in national and local consumption
• Grantee: Tais Freire Galvao
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants