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Mood disorder symptoms and elevated cardiovascular disease risk in patients with bipolar disorder

Juliette M Slomka1, John D Piette, Edward P Post

  • 1VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|February 24, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Depressive symptoms significantly increase the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with bipolar disorder. Managing depression may help reduce this CVD risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Bipolar disorder is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Understanding the interplay between mood symptoms and CVD risk factors is crucial for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between mood symptoms and 10-year CVD risk, estimated by the Framingham Risk Score, in patients with bipolar disorder.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 118 veterans with bipolar disorder and CVD risk factors was recruited.
  • Data on CVD risk factors were collected from medical records and surveys to calculate Framingham Scores.
  • The relationship between depressive/manic symptoms and Framingham Scores, as well as individual CVD risk factors, was analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Nearly 70% of participants were obese, 84% had hyperlipidemia, 70% were hypertensive, and 25% had diabetes.
  • Nineteen percent had an elevated 10-year CVD risk (Framingham score >20%).
  • Clinically significant depressive symptoms were associated with a 6-fold increased odds of elevated CVD risk (OR=6.1, p=0.03), while manic symptoms were not (OR=0.6, p=0.36). Depressive symptoms also correlated with higher BMI, fasting glucose, and blood pressure.

Conclusions:

  • Depressive symptoms are linked to a significantly higher relative 10-year risk for CVD mortality in individuals with bipolar disorder, even after accounting for physiological factors.
  • Interventions focused on the self-management of depressive symptoms could be beneficial in mitigating CVD risk for this patient group.
Abstract

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