Younger Women with Depression at Increased Risk of Death from Heart Disease

New research found that middle aged women who are moderately or severely depressed suffer from a two-fold risk of heart attack

 An Emory University research found that depressed women of age 55 or younger have an increased risk of death due to heart disease. The finding is based on the evaluation of symptoms of depression in 3,237 people with known or suspected heart diseases scheduled for coronary angiography.

Coronary angiography is a kind of an X-ray that helps diagnose the disease in the arteries that pump blood to the heart.

"Women in this age group are also more likely to have depression, so this may be one of the 'hidden' risk factors that can help explain why women die at a disproportionately higher rate than men after a heart attack," said Amit Shah, M.D., M.S.C.R., study author and assistant professor of Epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.

After three years of follow up, the researchers noticed that in both men and women the symptoms of depression did not predict the presence of heart disease. Even after considering for other heart disease risk factors, in women of age 55 and younger every 1 point increase in the symptoms of depression was linked with a 7 percent rise in presence of heart disease.

These women with moderate or severe depression were nearly 2.17 times more vulnerable to heart attacks and likely to die of heart disease or require an artery opening procedure during the follow period. They were 2.45 times more likely to die from any cause during the follow up period.

"All people, and especially younger women, need to take depression very seriously," Shah said. "Depression itself is a reason to take action, but knowing that it is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and death should motivate people to seek help. Providers need to ask more questions. They need to be aware that young women are especially vulnerable to depression, and that depression may increase the risk to their heart."

A statement was issued by the American Heart Association in 2008 in which they recommended that depression should be considered as a risk factor like diabetes or hypertension for increased risk of heart disease. 

 The finding was documented in the Journal of the American Heart Association.