Depressive symptoms were associated with significantly worse cardiovascular health, including a 41% higher prevalence of being a current smoker and lower overall Life's Simple 7 scores compared to those without depressive symptoms.
Cross-Sectional (n=20,093)
Yes
Are depressive symptoms associated with worse cardiovascular health as measured by the AHA Life's Simple 7 metric in adults ≥45 years of age?
Depressive symptoms are strongly associated with worse cardiovascular health behaviors and biological risk factors, highlighting the need for targeted behavioral interventions in this vulnerable population.
Effect estimate: PR 1.41 (95% CI 1.29-1.55)
Absolute Event Rate: 23.8% vs 12.6%
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms are associated with increased incident and recurrent cardiovascular events. In 2010, the American Heart Association published the Life's Simple 7, a metric for assessing cardiovascular health as measured by 4 health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, body mass index, diet) and 3 biological measures (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose). The association between depressive symptoms and the Life's Simple 7 has not yet been explored. METHODS: Data from 20,093 participants ≥45 years of age who enrolled in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study between 2003 and 2007 and who had complete data available on Life's Simple 7 components were used for these analyses. The prevalence of ideal, intermediate, and poor health on each Life's Simple 7 component and total Life's Simple 7 scores were compared between participants with and without depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 4-item Centers for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression scale. RESULTS: Participants with depressive symptoms were more likely to have poor levels on each of the Life's Simple 7 components other than cholesterol adjusted prevalence ratios (95% CI): smoking 1.41 (1.29-1.55); physical activity 1.38 (1.31-1.46); body mass index 1.09 (1.04-1.15); diet 1.08 (1.06-1.10); blood pressure 1.11 (1.02-1.21); glucose 1.24 (1.09-1.41). There was a graded association between increasing depressive symptoms and lower total Life's Simple 7 score. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms are associated with worse cardiovascular health on the overall Life's Simple 7 and on individual components representing both health behaviors and biological factors.
Kronish et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in Depressive symptoms and cardiovascular health (n=20,093). Depressive symptoms (CESD-4 score ≥4) vs. No depressive symptoms (CESD-4 score <4) was evaluated on Poor level of smoking (current smoker) (PR 1.41, 95% CI 1.29-1.55, p=<0.001). Depressive symptoms were associated with significantly worse cardiovascular health, including a 41% higher prevalence of being a current smoker and lower overall Life's Simple 7 scores compared to those without depressive symptoms.
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