Efficacy and tolerability of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for late-life depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a widely available treatment for major depression, but its efficacy and tolerability are uncertain for patients with late-life depression (LLD). To assess the existing evidence of rTMS for LLD treatment, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) according to PRISMA guidelines. We retrieved RCTs from four databases published between 1 January 2000 and 10 September 2021 comparing the effects of active and sham stimulation in LLD patients. We performed subgroup analyses to examine the impact of different parameters. The primary outcomes were the response and discontinuation rates of rTMS for LLD patients, representing for efficacy and tolerability, respectively. Secondary outcomes were remission and dropout rates. Discontinuation referred to patients who withdrew for any reason, while dropout referred to participants who withdrew early because of adverse events. Nine articles describing 11 studies (two articles each contained two studies) met the eligibility criteria. All outcomes were analyzed using a random-effects model. The summary analysis of nine suitable RCTs revealed a cumulative response rate of 2.86 (95 % confidence interval (95 % CI), 1.87–4.37) and a remission rate of 4.02 (95 % CI, 1.83–8.81) in the active group compared to the sham group. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) for discontinuation and dropout rates were not significantly different between the two groups. In addition, some rTMS parameters were associated with better efficacy. The meta-analysis suggested that rTMS is an effective, well-tolerated treatment for patients with LLD. Future efforts should enhance study methodologies to improve their efficacy and increase the homogeneity of rTMS parameters to promote comparability between studies. •rTMS is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated tool for late life depression (LLD).•rTMS reveals higher response and remission rates comparing to sham treatment for LLD.•rTMS parameters (e.g. motor threshold >100 %) may be related to better efficacy.•Still room to improve the efficacy if more individualized parameters can be designed.•Provide up-to-date guidance for clinical practice of rTMS in LLD treatment