long-term Lithium use tied to higher risk of VTE, Parkinson and kidney diseases

Katja Ponzer and colleagues from the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery at Karolinska Institute determined whether long-term lithium treatment has protective effects or a higher risk of vascular, neurological, and renal disorders.

The study summary includes the following:

• The researchers identified 9698 cases and matched 96,507 controls (general population).
• The outcomes measured in the study were vascular, neurological, renal, and suicide.
• Lithium users had a higher overall disease burden.
• Those on lithium had a 20 % lower risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders having an HR of 0.80.
• Among lithium users, there was no significant difference for dementia, having an HR of 1.15.
• The lithium-treated patients had a 50 % higher risk of pulmonary embolism than the general population and the psychiatric subcohort, with an HR of 2.86. and 1.68, respectively.
• Parkinson's disease and kidney disease were higher in lithium users.

In Conclusion, individuals prescribed lithium have no marked effect on dementia.

Prescribed lithium has a higher prevalence of Venous thromboembolism, Parkinson's disease, and kidney disease.

This is the first and largest epidemiological studies for determining vascular, neurological and renal disorders due to long-term lithium use.

As acknowledged, the study received funding from

Söderström‐Königska Foundation.

The study's Limitations include Retrospective observational design.

Further reading:

Ponzer K, Millischer V, Schalling M, Gissler M, Lavebratt C, Backlund L. Lithium and risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia and venous thromboembolism. Bipolar Disord. 2023 Jan 18. doi: 10.1111/bdi.13300