Inverse association of anti-inflammatory prescription fills and suicide-related mortality in young adults: Evidence from a nationwide study of Swedish regions, 2006–2021

This cross-sectional study examined nationwide real-world associations between anti-inflammatory agent fills and suicide-related death rates in 20–24-year-olds across the 21 Swedish regions during 2006–2021. Nationwide Swedish registers were used to compare regional year-wise suicide-related mortality (SRM) and dispensations for anti-inflammatory agents (ATC-code: M01) in 20–24-year-olds. Dispensations for paracetamol (ATC-code: N02BE01) was applied as a control variable. Associations between regional year-wise SRM and dispensation rates were analyzed by sex-stratified zero-inflated generalized linear mixed effect models (GLMM). Dispensation rates of paracetamol and inflammatory agents were designated as independent fixed effects variables, and year and region constituted random-intercept effects. Acetic acid derivatives and related substances (M01AB) and propionic acid derivates (M01A3) accounted for ∼71% of measured dispensation fills for anti-inflammatory agents. Diclofenac fills constituted ∼98% of the former category, whereas dispensations for Ibuprofen (∼21%), Naproxen (∼62%) and Ketoprofen (∼13%) constituted the most prescribed agents in the latter category. Regional yearly dispensation rates of anti-inflammatory agents in 20–24-year-old females were inversely associated with female SRM (β = −0.095, p = 0.0393, 95% CI -0.186, −0.005) – independent of paracetamol rates, which were unassociated to SRM (p = 0.2094). Results were confirmed in validation analyses for anti-inflammatory agents (OR = 0.7232, p = 0.0354, 95% CI [OR] 0.5347, 0.9781). No association was demonstrated in males (p = 0.833). Anti-inflammatory agent dispensation rates were independently associated to lower suicide-related death rates in female 20-24-year-olds. This adds to growing evidence implicating inflammatory processes in mental disorders, warranting trials focusing on the suicide preventative potential of anti-inflammatories in young adults. •2006–2021 study across the 21 Swedish regions encompassing 3453 suicide-related deaths.•Female SRM inversely correlated with anti-inflammatory agent use (p = 0.0393).•Validation confirms anti-inflammatory agents' suicide risk reduction (p = 0.0354).•Study supports link between inflammation & mental disorders.•Trials of anti-inflammatories for suicide prevention in young adults warranted.