title: Depression and the risk for cardiovascular diseases: systematic review and meta analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression and cardiovascular diseases are both common among elderly. Depression is suspected to be an independent risk factor for the onset of coronary heart disease, yet it is not clear to what extent and if depression also is associated with the onset of other diseases of the circulatory system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the risk of depression as an independent risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and explore the effects of heterogeneity and methodological quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meta-analyses and meta-regression analyses of longitudinal cohort and case-control studies reporting depression at baseline and CVD outcomes at follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE (1966-2005) and PSYCHINFO (1966-2005).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 28 studies that met the inclusion criteria, 11 were assesed as high quality studies. Although depressed mood increased the risk for a wide range of CVDs, heterogeneity was substantial in most cases. Only the overall combined risk of depression for the onset of myocardial infarctions (n=8, OR=1.60, 95%CI 1.34-1.92) was homogenous. Clinically diagnosed major depressive disorder was identified as the most important risk factor for developing CVD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression seems to be an independent risk factor for the onset of a wide range of CVDs, although this evidence is related to a high level of heterogeneity.
authors.affiliation: VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van der Kooy
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Hout
authors.forename: Harm
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marwijk
authors.forename: Haan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marten
authors.forename: Coen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stehouwer
authors.forename: Aartjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beekman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015984:Causality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic