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Women diagnosed with depression have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke than men who have also been diagnosed with the mental disorder.
Researchers analyzed health data for 4.1 million people to find the link between depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart attack, stroke and angina – chest pain or pressure that occurs when the heart muscle is not getting enough blood or oxygen.
While both men and women with depression had an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), women showed a greater risk – 64 percent compared to men’s 39 percent.
Women are also more prone to angina, stroke and other heart problems, according to researchers at the University of Tokyo.
Approximately 44 percent of women live with some form of heart disease (stock photo)
Dr. Hidehiro Kaneko, co-author, said this finding may aid in the development of targeted prevention and treatment strategies that address the specific CVD risks that depressed patients face, including screening for, prevention and treatment of the mental health condition.
He said: ‘A better understanding will enable healthcare providers to optimize care for both men and women with depression, leading to improved CVD outcomes for these populations.’
The authors suggested that women may experience more severe and persistent symptoms of depression compared to men, which could contribute to their poorer heart health.
Women are more likely to suffer from depression during hormonal changes such as their menstrual cycle and menopause. Women are also more susceptible to underlying CVD risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Additional results showed that compared to non-depressed women, those with the condition had a 52 percent higher risk of heart attack, a 68 percent higher risk of angina, a 56 percent higher risk of stroke and a 64 percent higher risk of heart failure.
Among men, those with depression had a 16 percent increased risk of heart attack, a 46 percent increased risk of angina, a 42 percent increased risk of stroke, and a 28 percent higher risk of heart failure.
Researchers conducted the study between depression and CVD using a database of medical claims between 2005 and 2022.
Depression was defined as those clinically diagnosed before their first health check.
The study collected vitals including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and blood tests.
Researchers then analyzed the differences between participants with and without depression to determine the increased risk.
Women are more likely than men to develop depression, and it is estimated that one in eight women suffer from mental illness in the United States—almost twice the rate of men.
In the United States, one person dies of CVD every 33 seconds, accounting for about one in five deaths.
Approximately 44 percent of women live with some form of heart disease. In men, heart disease affects more than a third.
Dr. Kaneko said: ‘Healthcare professionals need to recognize the important role that depression plays in the development of cardiovascular disease and emphasize the importance of a comprehensive, patient-centred approach to its prevention and treatment.
“Assessing the risk of CVD in depressed patients and treating and preventing depression may lead to a decrease in CVD events.”
The study was published in the journal JACC Asia.