Cardiovascular risk factors are associated with an increased risk of depression in older adults, suggest new studies.This study was led by Sandra Martin-Pelaez from the University of Granada, Spain, and his colleagues. The findings of this study were published in the ‘Ploos One’ open access journal.Cardiovascular disease and depression are estimated to be closely related to the same risk factors, including inflammation and oxidative stress. Although it has been shown that depression can be a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, studies that analyze the potential impact of cardiovascular health in the development of rare depression.
Also read: See five yoga poses for migraine assistance, improve heart health: watchIn a new study, the researchers used data from the 6-year-old multi-center randomized trial in Spain which analyzed the influence of the Mediterranean diet in men aged 55-75 and women aged 60-75 with overweight or obesity. 6,545 Individuals without cardiovascular or endocrine at the beginning are included in the current analysis.Cardiovascular risk scores according to Framingham-based regicor functions are calculated for everyone, dividing participants to low (LR), medium (MR), or a high / very high cardiovascular risk group (HR). Depression status was measured using a questionnaire in the baseline and after 2 years followed up.
At the beginning, women in the HR group showed a higher chance of depression status than LR women (or 1.78 95 percent CI 1.26-2.50). In addition, among all participants with the initial total cholesterol below 160 mg / ml, Mr and HR individuals showed a higher depression opportunity than LR (MR: or 1.77 95 percent CI 1.13-2.77; HR: or 2.83 95 percent higher. 6.42).Conversely, among the participants with a total cholesterol of 280 mg / ml or higher, the Mr and HR individuals have a lower risk of depression than LR (MR: or 0.26 95 percent CI 0.07-0.98; HR: or 0.23 95 percent. 0.05-0.95).
After two years, during certain times all individuals were ordered to follow the Mediterranean diet as part of the trial, participants, on average, reduced their depression status scores, with the biggest decline seen for Mr. and HR participants with high baseline cholesterol levels.The authors say that high and very high cardiovascular risks are associated with depression symptoms, especially in women, and that the role of other factors, such as compliance with the Mediterranean diet, is worthy of further research.
The authors concluded, “high cardiovascular risk, especially in women, is associated with symptoms of depression in parents.”