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Depression is a risk factor for coronary artery disease in men: the precursors study
D E Ford1, L A Mead, P P Chang
1Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Baltimore, MD 21205-2223, USA.
Insights
Clinical depression is a significant risk factor for developing coronary heart disease. This study found that depressed individuals had more than double the risk of heart attacks, persisting for decades.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Depression predicts poor outcomes in coronary artery disease (CAD).
- Limited data exists on depression as a risk factor for CAD development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if clinical depression independently predicts incident coronary artery disease.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study of 1190 male medical students (1948-1964).
- Collected data on family history, health behaviors, and clinical depression.
- Assessed cardiovascular disease endpoints over 40 years via questionnaires, death records, and medical records.
Main Results:
- 12% cumulative incidence of clinical depression over 40 years.
- Depressed men showed increased risk for coronary heart disease (RR 2.12) and myocardial infarction (RR 2.12).
- This elevated risk persisted for myocardial infarctions occurring 10 years post-depression onset.
Conclusions:
- Clinical depression is an independent risk factor for developing coronary artery disease.
- The increased risk associated with depression lasts for decades.
Background:
Several studies have found that depression is an independent predictor of poor outcome after the onset of clinical coronary artery disease. There are few data concerning depression as a risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease.
Objective:
To determine if clinical depression is an independent risk factor for incident coronary artery disease.
Patients And Methods:
The Johns Hopkins Precursors Study is a prospective, observational study of 1190 male medical students who were enrolled between 1948 and 1964 and who continued to be followed up. In medical school and through the follow-up period, information was collected on family history, health behaviors, and clinical depression. Cardiovascular disease end points have been assessed with reviews of annual questionnaires, National Death Index searches, medical records, death certificates, and autopsy reports.
Results:
The cumulative incidence of clinical depression in the medical students at 40 years of follow-up was 12%. Men who developed clinical depression drank more coffee than those who did not but did not differ in terms of baseline blood pressure, serum cholesterol levels, smoking status, physical activity, obesity, or family history of coronary artery disease. In multivariate analysis, the men who reported clinical depression were at significantly greater risk for subsequent coronary heart disease (relative risk [RR], 2.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-3.63) and myocardial infarction (RR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.11-4.06). The increased risk associated with clinical depression was present even for myocardial infarctions occurring 10 years after the onset of the first depressive episode (RR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-4.0).
Conclusion:
Clinical depression appears to be an independent risk factor for incident coronary artery disease for several decades after the onset of the clinical depression.