Key result
Depression-related CV mortality surged ~9% annually from 2018 to 2020, reversing prior declines.
Why the study?
Long-term trends in cardiovascular mortality among adults with depression have not been well characterized despite their higher mortality risk compared to those with CVD alone.
Observational (n=79,813)
Cardiovascular mortality among adults with depression has risen significantly since 2018, with notable disparities by sex, race, and geography, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Reversal of CV mortality decline among depressed adults since 2018 may indicate emerging risks; leaves open drivers and targeted interventions.
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression frequently coexist, leading to worse outcomes and higher mortality than CVD alone. Despite this impact, long-term trends in cardiovascular mortality among adults with depression remain underexplored. Methods: We used the CDC WONDER database to obtain death certificate data from 1999 to 2020 for adults aged ≥25 years. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) and crude mortality rates (CMRs) per 100,000 population were extracted. Annual percent change (APC) and average APC (AAPC) were estimated using Joinpoint regression and compared to the general population using pairwise comparison. Results: A total of 79,813 CVD deaths occurred in adults with depression. Mortality trends were stable until 2002 (APC: 0.14), declined significantly through 2010 (APC: -6.87), remained relatively stable from 2010 to 2018 (APC: -0.80), then rose significantly until 2020 (APC: 8.52). AAPCs differed significantly from the general population. AAMRs were consistently higher in females than males and highest among NH Whites, followed by NH Black or African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and NH Asian or Pacific Islanders. Regional variation in AAMRs was noted (Midwest: 2.2; West: 1.7; Northeast: 1.5; South: 1.4), with AAPCs differing from the general population in the Midwest and Northeast. AAMRs were higher in non-metropolitan (2.2) than metropolitan areas (1.6). APCs for CMRs in all analysed age groups (45-54 to 85+) differed significantly from the general population. Conclusion: CVD mortality rates among adults with depression have risen since 2018, with disparities by sex, race, and geography. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to reduce mortality in this high-risk population.
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Ahmed et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Cardiovascular disease with comorbid depression (n=79,813). Depression vs. General population (CVD mortality without depression) was evaluated on Average annual percent change (AAPC) in cardiovascular mortality (AAPC -2.19, 95% CI -2.78 to -1.60, p=0.03). Cardiovascular mortality among adults with depression declined until 2018 but rose significantly from 2018 to 2020 (APC 8.52), with overall trends differing significantly from the general population.
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