The Association between Depression and Heart Attack: Examining Demographic and Behavioral Correlates in Tennessee

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and depression are growing global health concerns as heart attack and stroke solely account for around 85% of total CVD deaths and 280 million ie, while 3.4% of the world's population have depression. A bi-directional relationship exists between depression and heart disease: about one-fourth of heart disease patients experience depression, and those with depression have a higher risk of developing heart disease compared to the general population. This study aims to examine the association between depression and heart attack as a dependent variable, focusing on demographic and behavioral correlates of individuals in Tennessee.

We performed a cross-sectional analysis using the 2022 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data for Tennessee (N = 5266). Our analytical approaches involved descriptive and multivariate analysis (logistic regression analysis) to assess the association between depression and heart attack in Tennessee. The primary dependent variable of interest was a self-reported lifetime heart attack and independent variables included self-reported lifetime depression, no exercise in the past 30 days, smoking status, race/ethnicity, gender, and age category.

A total of 7.5% (N = 731) of participants reported lifetime heart attack and 27.8% (N = 828) of participants reported depression. Depression was found to be significantly associated with higher odds of a heart attack (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.06, 1.73), p < 0.001). Similarly, no exercise in the past 30 days (AOR = 1.74; 95% CI, 1.39, 2.20, p < 0.001) was also associated with higher odds of a heart attack. Furthermore, low income, current smoking status, and race/ethnicity were not found to be significantly associated with heart attack in our study.

This study reinforces the significant link between depression and heart attack while highlighting the complex interplay of demographic and behavioral factors influencing onset of cardiovascular diseases. The findings underscore the necessity for a comprehensive approach to cardiovascular health that integrates mental health considerations and addresses broader social determinants of health.