Association of CVD Risk Factors with Depression in Young People

Takeaway

• A meta-analysis found a longitudinal association between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, particularly high body mass index (BMI; >25 kg/m²) and smoking, and subsequent depression in young people.

Why this matters

• Findings suggest that childhood/adolescent smoking and obesity may be important targets for preventing depression and CVD in young people and subsequently throughout their life span.

Study design

• UK researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 29 cohort studies identified through a literature search across MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases.
• The association of CVD risk factors with depression was evaluated in participants aged ≤24 years.
• Funding: None.

Key results

• High BMI (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.21-2.14; 7 studies; n=15,753) and smoking (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.36-2.20; I², 74%; 8 studies; n=30,539) were associated with an increased risk of subsequent depression.
• Low systolic blood pressure (SBP; OR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.68-6.55; 2 studies; n=893), but not high SBP (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.55-1.22; I², 66%; 2 studies; n=5111), was associated with an increased risk of depression.

Limitations

• Heterogeneity among studies.
• Results may have limited generalisability.

This clinical summary originally appeared on Univadis, part of the Medscape Professional Network.