Key clinical point: Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) does not increase the risks for depression, suicidality, or psychosis compared with sulfasalazine.
Major finding: Hydroxychloroquine use was not associated with risks for depression, acute psychosis, or suicidality compared with sulfasalazine. The hazard ratios [HRs] for short-term risks for depression, acute psychosis, and suicidality were 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-1.16), 1.03 (95% CI, 0.66-1.60), and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.49-1.77), respectively. The corresponding HRs for long-term risks were 0.94 (95% CI, 0.71-1.26), 0.99 (95% CI, 0.72-1.35), and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.56-1.07), respectively.
Study details: Findings from a multinational network cohort study of RA patients using hydroxychloroquine (n=918,144) and sulfasalazine (n=290,383).
Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, US National Institutes of Health, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Janssen Research & Development, IQVIA, the Korea Health Technology, and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute. Some of the authors reported personal funding/support from pharmaceutical companies and/or research organizations.
Source: Lane JCE et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 Dec 25. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa771 .