Abstract:Objective To observe the efficacy of escitalopram (ES) combined with sertraline (SER) on postpartum depression (PDD) with anxiety symptoms and its influence on sex hormones levels.Methods Sixty-eight PDD patients with anxiety symptoms in Yichun Maternal and Child Health Hospital were selected from February 2021 to December 2022, and were divided into SER group (n=34, treated with SER) and ES+SER group (n=34, treated with ES combined with SER) according to the random number table method. The anxiety degree and depression degree 〔Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scales (HAMA, HAMD) scores〕, serological indicators 〔interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)〕 and sex hormones 〔estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), prolactin (PRL)〕 before and after treatment and adverse reactions were compared between groups.Results After treatment, the HAMA score and HAMD score in both groups were decreased (P<0.05), and the scores in ES+SER group after treatment were lower than those in SER group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were declined in the two groups after treatment (P<0.05), and the above levels after treatment were lower in ES+SER group than those in SER group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of E2 and PRL in ES+SER group were enhanced (P<0.05), while the level of P was reduced (P<0.05), and there were statistical differences between groups after treatment (P<0.05). The incidence rates of adverse reactions revealed no statistical differences between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion ES combined with SER can effectively improve the negative emotions of PDD with anxiety symptoms, promote the decreases of inflammatory factors, regulate the levels of sex hormones, and it has good safety.