A CORRELAÇÃO ENTRE O USO DE ESCITALOPRAM EM IDOSOS E O PROLONGAMENTO DO INTERVALO QT.

To achieve the objective of verifying whether there is a correlation between the use of escitalopram in the elderly and QT prolongation, a search was carried out in Pubmed, Scielo and Lilacs. The selected studies were evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale to assesses study quality. The studies indicate that the link between escitalopram use and serious arrhythmia is weak despite FDA recommendations. The risk of arrhythmia and mortality associated with escitalopram also decreased over time. Cardiac comorbidities increase the risk of QT prolongation and mortality, and modifiable risk factors like hypokalemia and drug interactions should be addressed in at-risk individuals. Healthcare providers face a difficult decision regarding dosage restrictions and medication switching, taking into account escitalopram's effectiveness and tolerability. More research and awareness are needed to optimize antidepressant therapy for cardiac safety.