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Depressive symptoms are independently predictive of carotid atherosclerosis

Donald C Haas1, Karina W Davidson, Daniel J Schwartz

  • 1Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. donald.haas@msnyuhealth.org

The American Journal of Cardiology
|February 8, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Depression may increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Individuals with higher depressive symptoms were over twice as likely to develop carotid plaque, a marker for heart disease, after 10 years.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Psychiatry
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
  • Depressive symptoms are increasingly recognized as a potential contributor to various health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the predictive value of depressive symptoms for the development of carotid atherosclerosis.
  • To determine if depression is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 219 healthy participants was assessed for baseline cardiovascular risk factors and depressive symptoms.
  • Carotid plaque was assessed at a 10-year follow-up.
  • Statistical analysis adjusted for established cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Participants with elevated depressive symptom scores at baseline had more than double the likelihood of having carotid plaque at 10-year follow-up.
  • This association remained significant after adjusting for baseline cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • Depressive symptoms are a significant predictor of carotid atherosclerosis in initially healthy individuals.
  • These findings suggest a link between mental health and cardiovascular health, highlighting the importance of addressing depression in cardiovascular risk assessment.

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