- Researchers are reporting that women who are diagnosed with depression are more likely to develop heart disease than men with depression.
- Experts say that hormones and inflammation in the body are two factors that can cause cardiovascular disease to develop.
- They say medical professionals need to perform better screenings for both men and women when it comes to depression.
Women are significantly more likely than men to develop cardiovascular disease following a diagnosis of depression.
That’s according to research published today in the journal JACC: Asia.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes heart attacks, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
It’s estimated that more than
In their new study, researchers say it may be time for cardiologists to invest more time in screening patients for depression.
“A better understanding will allow healthcare providers to optimize care for both men and women with depression, leading to improved CVD outcomes for these populations,” said Dr. Hidehiro Kaneko, an assistant professor at the University of Tokyo in Japan and a contributing author of the study, in a statement.
The study tracked and reviewed medical claims between 2005 and 2022, analyzing more than 4 million patients’ rates of depression and eventual CVD diagnosis.
There were slightly more men in the study than women. The average age was 44 years old. To qualify for a depression status in the analysis, the participant had to receive a clinical diagnosis prior to their CVD diagnosis.
Patient health data included body mass index, blood pressure, fasting cholesterol, and blood glucose levels. Cardiovascular events included myocardial infarction (heart attack), angina pectoris (recurring chest pain), heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
Researchers used data to calculate multiple “hazard ratios”— which simply indicate a…
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