Depression, anxiety and stress linked to poor heart health in two new studies

Depression and anxiety accelerate the rate of gain of cardiovascular risk factors: mechanism leading to increased risk of cardiac events (MDP274)

38% of all participants developed a new cardiovascular risk factor, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes during the follow-up.
Participants previously diagnosed with anxiety or depression developed a new risk factor on average six months earlier than those who did not have depression or anxiety.
Depression and anxiety increased the risk for a major cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, by about 35%.
About 40% of the link between depression and/or anxiety and major heart and stroke events were explained by the accelerated development of cardiovascular disease risk factors.
People with a higher genetic predisposition to stress developed the first cardiovascular risk factor at a younger age (on average 1.5 years earlier than those without the genetic marker).

The analysis was conducted using data on 71,262 adults, (average age 49, 45% men) and data were collected from December 2010 to December 2020.
16% of the study group were taking medications for depression or anxiety; however, statistical adjustment for such medications did not significantly impact results, Civieri explained.
A genetic marker of stress sensitivity (polygenic risk score for neuroticism) was assessed for subjects who provided genetic data.

associated with a 22% increased risk of atherosclerosis, in which plaque builds up in the arteries reducing adequate blood flow;
associated with a 20% increased risk of overall cardiovascular disease; including coronary artery disease and heart failure;
higher among women, people aged 18–45 and individuals with lower income and education levels, as well as among individuals who self-identified as Black or Hispanic adults.

Data evaluated was for 2,685 adults who did not have existing cardiovascular disease and participated in the Dallas Heart Study phase 2 (2007–2009), a multiethnic population-based group based in Dallas.
The participants’ average age was 48 years; 55% were women; 49% were Black adults; and 15% of participants were Hispanic/Latino adults.
Participants were followed for an average of 12.4 years, and cardiovascular events and deaths were judged by a panel of cardiovascular specialists.