A Role for Behavior in the Relationships Between Depression and Hostility and Cardiovascular Disease Incidence,
K M Appleton1, J V Woodside2, D Arveiler3
1Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK. k.appleton@bournemouth.ac.uk.
Insights
Behavioral factors like smoking and diet significantly influence the link between psychological traits such as depression and hostility, and mortality risk. Modifying these behaviors may reduce mortality associated with mental health conditions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral science
- Epidemiology
- Cardiovascular disease research
Background:
- Behavioral factors play a crucial role in disease incidence and mortality.
- Psychological traits are linked to mortality, with behavioral factors potentially mediating these associations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how behavioral factors impact the relationship between depression, hostility, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence, CVD mortality, and all-cause mortality.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the PRIME Study (N=6953 men).
- Utilized Cox proportional hazards models.
- Adjusted for demographic, biological CVD risk factors, and psychological traits like social support.
Main Results:
- Initially, depression and hostility were significantly linked to both mortality outcomes.
- After adjusting for behavioral factors, these relationships were attenuated.
- Smoking emerged as the most significant behavioral contributor, followed by fruit/vegetable intake and high alcohol consumption. All-cause mortality associations remained significant.
Conclusions:
- Confirms known associations between depression, hostility, and mortality.
- Highlights the significant role of behavioral factors in explaining these relationships.
- Suggests that interventions targeting behaviors like smoking cessation and dietary changes could mitigate mortality risks associated with psychological distress.
Background:
Behavioral factors are important in disease incidence and mortality and may explain associations between mortality and various psychological traits.
Purpose:
These analyses investigated the impact of behavioral factors on the associations between depression, hostility and cardiovascular disease(CVD) incidence, CVD mortality, and all-cause mortality.
Methods:
Data from the PRIME Study (N = 6953 men) were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, following adjustment for demographic and biological CVD risk factors, and other psychological traits, including social support.
Results:
Following initial adjustment, both depression and hostility were significantly associated with both mortality outcomes (smallest SHR = 1.24, p < 0.001). Following adjustment for behavioral factors, all relationships were attenuated both when accounting for and not accounting for other psychological variables. Associations with all-cause mortality remained significant (smallest SHR = 1.14, p = 0.04). Of the behaviors included, the most significant contribution to outcomes was found for smoking, but a role was also found for fruit and vegetable intakes and high alcohol consumption.
Conclusions:
These findings demonstrate well-known associations between depression, hostility, and mortality and suggest the potential importance of behaviors in explaining these relationships.
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