Adults with persistently high depressive symptoms are associated with increased stroke risk, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.A few studies in the past have demonstrated a positive association of depressive symptoms and stroke incidence, but the data on persistence of stroke risk after remittance of depression is limited. Researcher's analysed data from 16,178 stroke-free participant's aged ≥50 years, who had been interviewed as part of the Health and Retirement Study about depressive symptoms, history of stroke, and stroke risk factors every two years from 1998 to 2010. Over 12 years, nearly 1,192 participants had a stroke. Researchers found that people with high depressive symptoms at two consecutive interviews were more than twice as likely to have a first stroke as people without depression at either interview. Stroke risk remained elevated even among participants with remitted depressive symptoms, particularly for women. Those with depressive symptoms that began between interviews did not show signs of elevated stroke risk. Researchers also noted that people <65 years of age who had depressive symptoms had a greater risk of stroke compared to those >65 years of age with depression. The researchers suggest that depression may influence stroke risk and the risk remained elevated even if depressive symptoms remitted over a two‐year period, suggesting cumulative aetiologic mechanisms linking depression and stroke. J Am Heart Assoc. 2015; 4: e001923; doi:10.1161/JAHA.115.001923 Posted on: 18 May, 2015 Subscribe below and download our weekly newsletter. Name Email Address...
