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Study finds depression linked to greater risk of heart disease

According to the study, greater awareness of the physical health risks associated with depression is needed.
heart-disease
Photo: Getty Images

People suffering from depression could be at greater risk of heart disease, according to a new study.

The study – published this month in JAMA Psychiatry and co-led by Simon Fraser University (SFU) health sciences professor Scott Lear, along with researchers at universities around the world – found a 20 per cent increase in cardiovascular events and death in people with four or more depressive symptoms.

The risks for cardiovascular disease were more than double for men, and twice as high in urban areas, where the majority of the world’s population will be living by 2050, according to the study.

This suggests that depression should be considered as important as traditional risk factors for heart disease and early death, including high blood pressure, smoking and high cholesterol, according to the global study, which tracked 145,862 middle-aged participants from 21 countries.

Depression and other mental health issues are widespread in Canada, according to a statement from SFU. One in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem during their lifetime and eight per cent will experience a major depressive event.

Meanwhile, Lear says that experts anticipate COVID-19 will lead to an increase in the number of people dealing with mental health issues.

The data also backs up World Health Organization policies to integrate treatment and prevention of mental disorders into primary care.

According to the study, greater awareness of the physical health risks associated with depression is needed.

For example, researchers suggest a comprehensive approach to tackling non-communicable diseases and mental disorders needs to be a global priority.

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