Our project aims to improve the safety of medical care for individuals with mental illness by reducing the risk of serious heart-related events caused by certain psychiatric medications. These medications can sometimes lead to a condition called drug-induced QT prolongation, where the heart’s electrical system takes longer than usual to recharge between heartbeats. This increases the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and sudden cardiac death. By using a combination of pharmacogenomics, which looks at how genes effect an individual’s response to drugs, along with other established risk factors, we hope to better identify patients who are at high risk for these side effects.
QT interval prolongation may be seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG), which represents a recording of the heart’s electrical activity. We know that numerous genetically determined mechanisms contribute to normal heart function. A loss of one of these mechanisms could make an individual more likely to develop drug-induced QT prolongation.
We know that drug-induced QT prolongation is a serious concern, especially among psychiatric patients who often receive medications that carry this risk. It’s essential to understand both patient-specific and drug-specific factors that contribute to this risk. By gaining a deeper understanding of these factors, we can improve our ability to predict and prevent these potentially life-threatening side effects, ultimately improving the safety and efficacy of mental health treatment.
Our research involves analyzing large sets of data from population-based cohorts, which allow us to study drug responses in real-world settings. Using advanced statistical methods, we’ll analyze genetic data to identify associations between genetic factors and the occurrence of drug-induced heart problems. Ultimately, our findings could lead to more personalized and safer mental health treatment, benefiting individuals with mental illness and reducing the burden of drug-related heart issues on public health.