Having ≥3 midlife vascular risk factors, compared with 0 risk factors, was associated with significantly greater odds of late-life depressive symptoms (OR 2.34; 95% CI 1.62-3.40).
Cohort (n=6,198)
Yes
Does the burden of midlife vascular risk factors increase the risk of late-life depressive symptoms in a general population cohort?
Midlife vascular risk factors, particularly a higher burden of them, are independently associated with an increased risk of late-life depressive symptoms.
Odds Ratio: 2.34 (95% CI 1.62–3.4)
BACKGROUND: The impact of midlife vascular health, which is strongly linked with other aspects of brain health, on late-life depression is not well understood. We examined the associations of midlife vascular risk factors (VRFs), and the burden of these factors, with late-life depressive symptoms (LLDSs). METHODS: Individuals from the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study, a population-based prospective study, were evaluated with 5 in-person visits from 1987 to 1989 (visit 1) through 2011 to 2013 (visit 5). Presence of midlife VRFs at visit 1 (smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia) or midlife VRF burden (0, 1, 2, or ≥3 VRFs) were evaluated. LLDSs were defined by a Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale score ≥9 at visit 5. Multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, race-center, apolipoprotein E ε4 carrier status, and education. RESULTS: Among 6198 participants, at midlife (median age, 51 years; 59% women; 22% Black individuals), 20.2% had 0 VRFs, 41.3% had 1, 27.2% had 2, and 11.3% had ≥3 VRFs. In a combined model, midlife smoking (odds ratio OR, 1.68 95% CI, 1.33-2.13), diabetes (OR, 1.42 95% CI, 1.00-2.00), hypertension (OR, 1.29 95% CI, 1.03-1.62), and obesity (OR, 1.51 95% CI, 1.21-1.90) were each independently associated with LLDSs. Compared with individuals with 0 VRFs in midlife, individuals with 2 (OR, 1.69 95% CI, 1.21-2.36) or ≥3 (OR, 2.34 95% CI, 1.62-3.40) VRFs had greater odds of LLDSs. CONCLUSIONS: Midlife VRFs, and the burden of these factors, were associated with LLDS. Midlife vascular health may be a potential target for prevention of depression in later life.
Kanetkar et al. (Fri,) conducted a cohort in Late-life depressive symptoms (n=6,198). High midlife vascular risk factor burden (≥3 VRFs) vs. 0 midlife vascular risk factors was evaluated on Late-life depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale score ≥9 at visit 5) (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.62-3.40). Having ≥3 midlife vascular risk factors, compared with 0 risk factors, was associated with significantly greater odds of late-life depressive symptoms (OR 2.34; 95% CI 1.62-3.40).