Non-melancholic depressive symptoms increase risk for incident cardiovascular disease: A prospective study in a primary care population at risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess subtypes of depressive symptoms and their relationship with cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity among CVD risk persons. MethodsA prospective study of 2522 CVD risk persons was conducted. Non-melancholic and melancholic depressive symptoms were assessed by Beck's Depression Inventory. Data on incident CVD was gathered from a national register, after 8 years of follow-up. ResultsAt baseline, the prevalence of non-melancholic and melancholic depressive symptoms was 14.9% and 5.2%, respectively. A total of 18,413 person-years was followed up, and the incidence of CVD was 9.6% in non-depressive, 14.1% in non-melancholically depressive, and 13.0% in melancholically depressive subjects. When adjusted for age, gender, education, smoking, alcohol use, leisure-time physical activity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, the incidence rate ratios (IRR) for CVD in subjects with non-melancholic and melancholic depressive symptoms compared to non-depressiveness were IRR 1.69 (95% CI: 1.23–2.31) and IRR 1.31 (95% CI: 0.75–2.26). ConclusionNon-melancholic depressive symptoms seem to increase risk for incident CVD among CVD risk subjects. Considering non-melancholic depressive symptoms might be useful when treating subjects with other CVD risk factors.