Depression reduces the chances of reaching good cardiovascular health

Main Point:

High level of depression is an important barrier to achieve best cardiovascular health.

Published in:

Scientific Reports

Study Further:

Cardiovascular problems are among the important causes of mortality throughout the world, that’s why researchers are working on the cardiovascular disorders and causes behind them. Some of the important causes or factors behind cardiovascular disorders are blood pressure, smoking (especially in men), and lipids. Some other risk factors include obesity and diabetes. Although these factors have been controlled to some extent but still cardiovascular health is below an ideal level in the U.S. as well as European populations.

In a study, researchers worked on 9,417 people in the age range of 50 years to 75 years, and found that high level of depressive symptoms are important barriers in the achievement of ideal cardiovascular health. It has also been reported that women have two times more frequent ideal cardiovascular health as compared to men, in spite of more common presence of depression in women (a paradox). Researchers also noted that studies also show that people with ideal cardiovascular health have decreased chances of getting depression.

“It might be suggested that collaborative care should in particular target simultaneously depressive symptoms and behavioural risk factors control, primarily smoking, obesity and physical inactivity,” Researchers wrote in the paper.

Source:

Gaye, B., Prugger, C., Perier, M., Thomas, F., Plichart, M., Guibout, C., Lemogne, C., Pannier, B., Boutouyrie, P., Jouven, X., & Empana, J. (2016). High level of depressive symptoms as a barrier to reach an ideal cardiovascular health. The Paris Prospective Study III Scientific Reports, 6 DOI: 10.1038/srep18951