In the past, studies have shown that depressed men have an increased risk of heart disease, but little was known about depression and heart disease in women until now. The researchers of this study confirm that men with depression may have a higher risk of actually dying from heart disease. Additionally, the results also suggest, for the first time, that depression may affect coronary heart disease risk in women. The data indicates that depressed men and women were almost twice as likely as their non-depressed counterparts to develop heart disease. Although depression did not affect the women's risk of dying from heart disease over other causes, depressed men were 2.3 times as likely to die from heart disease. The men who were depressed were also 1.7 times as likely to die from any cause during the study compared with non-depressed men.
More research should be on the way to study why depressed people may be at greater risk of developing heart disease. If you feel depressed or your friends and loved ones notice signs of depression, consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment. Make sure you ask your physician about your risks of heart disease.
