Key result
Depressive symptoms linked to ~63% higher odds of abnormal carotid intima-media thickness in females.
Why the study?
The association of depressive symptoms with carotid intima-media thickness and plaques in the general Korean population was unclear.
Are clinically significant depressive symptoms associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques in middle-aged and older adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=7,554)
No
Are clinically significant depressive symptoms associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques in middle-aged and older adults?
Odds Ratio: 1.63 (95% CI 1.16–2.3)
Clinically significant depressive symptoms are independently associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness in middle-aged and older women, suggesting a gender-specific link between depression and subclinical atherosclerosis.
Depressive symptoms linked to greater carotid IMT in women only; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
We investigated the association of depressive symptoms with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques in the general Korean population. A total of 7,554 Korean males and females aged 45-74 yr who were free from cardiovascular diseases were included in the analyses. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Subjects with a score of ≥16 were classified as having clinically significant depressive symptoms. Carotid ultrasonography was used to measure mean carotid IMT (C-IMT) and to determine the presence of plaques. A significant association between depressive symptoms and C-IMT was observed only in females. After adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors, females with depressive symptoms had significantly greater C-IMT than females without depressive symptoms (mean difference 0.011±0.004 mm; 95% confidence interval, 0.003-0.019 mm). Compared with controls, the fully adjusted risk of females with depressive symptoms for abnormal C-IMT (≥1.0 mm) was significant (odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.30). No significant association between depressive symptoms and carotid plaques was observed in either gender. This study shows a significant association between depressive symptoms and C-IMT in middle-aged and older females.
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Lee et al. (2014) conducted a cross-sectional in Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (n=7,554). Depressive symptoms vs. No depressive symptoms was evaluated on Abnormal carotid intima-media thickness (≥ 1.0 mm) in females (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.16-2.30). Clinically significant depressive symptoms were associated with a 63% increased odds of abnormal carotid intima-media thickness in middle-aged and older females (OR 1.63).
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