Changes in cardiovascular disease burden associated with psychopathology in Australian adults 2004-2008

The objective was to investigate changes in self-reported cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden associated with psychopathology for Australia from 2004 to 2008.

Data analyzed were from 32,073 participants aged ≥25 years from the 2004-2005 or 2007-2008 National Health Surveys. Lifetime diagnosis of CVD (heart attack or stroke) was by self-report. Psychopathology was determined by the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (using scores ≥30) and use of antidepressants or antianxiety (AD/AA) medications.

The prevalence of CVD (4.1% to 4.5%, P=.045) had increased slightly from 2004 to 2008 for the general population, but not among those with psychopathology. On average, psychological distress only [odds ratio (OR) 2.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.52-2.62] and AD/AA medications with (OR 2.02; 1.41-2.88) and without psychological distress (OR 1.24; 1.00-1.55) were associated with increased odds of CVD over the 4-year period, independent of sociodemographic, lifestyle and chronic disease covariates. Both psychological distress only (OR 1.61; 1.15-2.25) and AD/AA medications with psychological distress (OR 1.62; 1.08-2.44) conferred higher odds of CVD than AD/AA medications without psychological distress.

In comparison to those without psychopathology, the odds of self-reported CVD were persistently higher among people with psychopathology from 2004 to 2008, particularly for psychological distress.