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Depression as a predictor of hospitalization due to coronary heart disease

Jan Sundquist1, Xinjun Li, Sven-Erik Johansson

  • 1Karolinska Institute, Center for Family and Community Medicine, Huddinge, Sweden. kristina.sundquist@klinvet.ki.se

American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|December 27, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Depression significantly increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), particularly in younger adults. Early identification of depression is crucial for preventing heart disease in at-risk populations.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Depression is linked to higher rates of coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • Large-scale population data on CHD incidence in depressed individuals are limited.
  • This study investigates depression as a predictor of CHD, controlling for socioeconomic status and region.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if depression predicts the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • To analyze this association in both men and women across different age groups.
  • To control for socioeconomic status and geographic region in the analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the family coronary heart disease database from the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm.
  • Identified individuals aged 25-64 with depression and 25-79 with nonfatal CHD (1987-2001).
  • Calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) to compare CHD risk between depressed and non-depressed groups.

Main Results:

  • 1767 cases of CHD occurred in individuals with depression.
  • The highest CHD risk was observed in those under 40 (SIR=2.17).
  • Risk decreased with age; no increased risk was found in those aged 70-79 with depression.

Conclusions:

  • Depression is a significant risk factor for CHD, independent of socioeconomic status and region.
  • The risk is most pronounced in younger to middle-aged adults (25-50).
  • Healthcare providers should prioritize identifying depression in younger adults, especially those with other CHD risk factors.
Abstract

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