Depression severity and cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: insights from the framingham risk score

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

In patients with type 2 diabetes, severe depression was significantly associated with a higher 10-year Framingham cardiovascular risk score compared to those without depression.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=400). Intervention: Depression vs. No depression. Primary outcome: 10-year cardiovascular disease risk (Framingham Risk Score) (p=<0.05).

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate depressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and determine their relationship with 10-year cardiovascular disease risk estimated by the Framingham Risk Score.

Soghra Aliasgharzadeh; Neda Lotfi Yagin; Nazli Namazi; Sajjad Haji; Naimeh Mesri Alamdari; Samira Pourmoradian; ZIBA GHORBANVERDI; Majid Mobasseri

doi:10.1038/s41598-026-43077-8

March 18, 2026Scientific ReportsOpen Access

Depression severity and cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: insights from the framingham risk score

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Severe depression linked to higher 10-year CV risk scores in patients with T2D.

P<0.05
n=400

Figures

Why the study?

Although the Framingham Risk Score predicts CVD in people without diabetes, its performance in patients with T2DM who experience depression is not well established.

Does depression severity increase the 10-year cardiovascular disease risk score in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Key Points

To evaluate depressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and determine their relationship with 10-year cardiovascular disease risk estimated by the Framingham Risk Score.
Conducted a cross-sectional study in 400 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus categorized by glycemic control (well-controlled: HbA1c < 7%; poorly controlled: HbA1c ≥ 7%).
Assessed depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and 10-year cardiovascular disease risk using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS).
Analyzed associations between depression severity and cardiovascular risk scores using univariate and multivariate linear regression models adjusting for potential confounders.
Depressive symptoms occurred in over half of the cohort (19.0% mild, 21.5% moderate, and 9.8% severe depression, while 49.8% had no depression), with severe depression occurring more frequently in poorly controlled (13.7%) than well-controlled diabetes (5.9%, p = 0.033).
Ten-year cardiovascular disease risk was low (<10%) in 40.6%, moderate (10-20%) in 34.1%, and high (>20%) in 25.3% of participants, showing a significant difference between poorly and well-controlled groups (p = 0.006).
Multivariate linear regression demonstrated that subjects with mild, moderate, or severe depression had higher Framingham risk scores, with severe depression independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk in both well-controlled and poorly controlled groups (p < 0.05).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=400)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does depression severity increase the 10-year cardiovascular disease risk score in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus?

P

Population

Adults aged 18 years or older diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus within the past five years, currently on insulin or medication therapy

I

Intervention

Depression severity (assessed via Beck Depression Inventory)

C

Comparator

No depression

O

Outcome

10-year cardiovascular disease risk estimated by the Framingham Risk Scoresurrogate

Main Result

p-value: p=<0.05

Greater depression severity is significantly associated with higher 10-year cardiovascular risk scores in patients with type 2 diabetes, highlighting the need for integrated mental and physical health management.

Limitations

Cross-sectional nature prevents inferring causality and temporal directionality between depression and cardiovascular disease
Framingham risk score may be less refined than newer cardiovascular risk prediction tools for people with diabetes
Confined sample size prevents generalizing the findings to other populations

Ask about this paper

Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

Supports integrated mental-physical care in T2DM; hypothesis-generating for interventions targeting depression to lower CV risk.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). Beyond physiological complications, individuals with T2DM frequently experience psychological comorbidities, with depression being one of the most prevalent. Although Framingham Risk Score (FRS) is shown to predict CVD in people without diabetes, its performance in those with T2DM who experience depression is not well established. This study examines depressive symptoms in individuals withT2DM and explores how these symptoms relate to the Framingham risk score in this group. In a cross-sectional study of 400 T2DM patients, cardiovascular disease risk was assessed using the FRS scoring system. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was applied to evaluate depressive symptoms in participants. In 400 T2DM patients, nearly half of the studied patients (49.8%) exhibited no depression, while 19.0% experienced mild depression, 21.5% had moderate depression, and 9.8% diagnosed with severe depression. There is a significant difference in depression severity distribution between the poor–controlled and well-controlled diabetes patients (p = 0.033). In 40.6% of patients, the FRS for 10-year cardiovascular disease is <10%. About 34.1% of patients had a moderate FRS (10-20%), and 25.3% were categorized as being at high risk for FRS (>20%). A significant difference in cardiovascular risk score distribution was observed between patients with poorly controlled and well-controlled diabetes (p = 0.006). According to multivariate linear regression analysis, subjects with mild, moderate, or severe depression had higher Framingham cardiovascular risk scores. A similar finding was observed for both well-controlled and poorly controlled T2DM patients. There is a potent relationship between depression severity and the 10-year CVD risk score in both well-controlled and poorly controlled T2DM patients. Healthcare providers should pay greater attention to mental health issues in T2DM patients, alongside managing their physical health.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Aliasgharzadeh et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=400). Depression vs. No depression was evaluated on 10-year cardiovascular disease risk (Framingham Risk Score) (p=<0.05). In patients with type 2 diabetes, severe depression was significantly associated with a higher 10-year Framingham cardiovascular risk score compared to those without depression.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69be368a6e48c4981c67587c https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43077-8

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Depression severity and cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: insights from the framingham risk score

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Depression severity and cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: insights from the framingham risk score

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading