SSRI Use During Pregnancy and Risk of Stillbirth and Neonatal Mortality

Objective

The authors investigated whether in utero exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increases the risk of stillbirth or neonatal mortality.

Method

The authors conducted a population-based cohort study using the Danish Fertility Database to identify every birth in Denmark between 1995 and 2008. Time of exposure to SSRIs was calculated on the basis of standard treatment dosages and dispensed pack sizes according to the prescription register. Exposure was divided into first-, second-, and third-trimester exposure. Multivariate logistic regression models were used.

Results

The authors identified 920,620 births; the incidence of stillbirths was 0.45%, and the incidence of neonatal mortality was 0.34%. A total of 12,425 offspring were exposed to an SSRI during pregnancy. Stillbirth was not associated with first-trimester SSRI use (adjusted odds ratio=0.77, 95% CI=0.43–1.36), first- and second-trimester use (odds ratio=0.84, 95% CI=0.40–1.77), or first-, second-, and third-trimester use (odds ratio=1.06, 95% CI=0.71–1.58). Neonatal mortality was not associated with SSRI first-trimester use (odds ratio=0.56, 95% CI=0.25–1.24), first- and second-trimester use (odds ratio=0.90, 95% CI=0.37–2.17), or first-, second-, and third-trimester use (odds ratio=1.27, 95% CI=0.82–1.99).

Conclusions

This study found no association between exposure to SSRIs during pregnancy and stillbirth or neonatal mortality.