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The relationship between major depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and coronary artery disease: A

Xiaochen Zhang1, Lei Zhang2, Suxia Huo3

  • 1Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, P.R. China.

Medicine
|November 5, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study suggests major depression (MD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may causally influence coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. However, further analysis indicates a complex relationship, possibly bidirectional, between ADHD and obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Genetics
  • Psychiatric Epidemiology
  • Genetic Epidemiology

Background:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading global cause of death.
  • Mental health conditions like major depression (MD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are suspected risk factors for CAD.
  • Investigating the genetic links between these conditions is crucial for understanding CAD etiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the potential causal impact of genetic susceptibility to MD and ADHD on the risk of developing CAD.
  • To explore the interplay between ADHD, obesity, and CAD risk using genetic data.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in European populations.
  • Employed Mendelian randomization (MR) with inverse variance weighted (IVW) method.
  • Conducted sensitivity analyses using MR-Egger and weighted median estimators, and multivariable MR (MVMR).

Main Results:

  • A potential causal link was found between genetic liability to MD and ADHD with increased CAD risk (MD: OR 42.66; ADHD: OR 1.055).
  • Obesity did not show a significant causal association with ADHD.
  • In MVMR, the ADHD-CAD association weakened, while the body mass index-CAD link remained significant.

Conclusions:

  • The study suggests a potential causal relationship between MD and ADHD with CAD risk, though the association for ADHD appears less robust after multivariable adjustment.
  • Evidence points towards a bidirectional relationship between ADHD and obesity.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the complex genetic and environmental interactions influencing CAD risk in individuals with mental health conditions.

Keywords:
Mendelian randomizationattention-deficit hyperactivity disordercoronary artery diseasemajor depressionrisk factors

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