Increased risk of depression in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus and systemic lupus erythematosus: a Danish nationwide cohort study

Background There is a wide range in the reported prevalences of depression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), while the prevalence of depression in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) remains severely understudied. Objectives Methods To examine whether patients with SLE or CLE have an increased risk of depression. In this nationwide observational cohort study, we included patients aged >= 18 years with a first-time diagnosis of SLE or CLE between 2000 and 2015 identified in the Danish National Patient Register, which were matched with the general population in a ratio of 1 : 10. After linkage to national Danish health registers of primary and secondary care, analyses of risk for depression and antidepressant use were performed using Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol abuse, prior depression and prior antidepressant use. Results Conclusions A total of 3489 patients with lupus erythematosus were followed for 23 373 person-years. Compared with the general population, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of depression were 2 center dot 07 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1 center dot 55-2 center dot 75] and 2 center dot 22 (95% CI 1 center dot 77-2 center dot 77) for patients with CLE and SLE, respectively; for hospitalization owing to depression at a department of psychiatry HRs were 2 center dot 63 (95% CI 0 center dot 80-8 center dot 67) and 3 center dot 52 (95% CI 1 center dot 53-8 center dot 11) for patients with CLE and SLE, respectively. The adjusted HRs for antidepressant use were 1 center dot 47 (95% CI 1 center dot 34-1 center dot 63) and 1 center dot 70 (95% CI 1 center dot 58-1 center dot 83) for patients with CLE and SLE, respectively. The risk of depression was significantly increased in patients with SLE and CLE. Awareness of an increased risk of depression in patients with SLE and CLE might be warranted.