Is depression a risk factor for heart complaints? Longitudinal aspects in the Zurich study.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this longitudinal study was to assess the association between major depression and heart complaints in a population of young and healthy adults.


METHODS
Starting at the age 20/21, participants of the Zurich Study underwent 6 structured, psychological interviews during a span of 20 years. We evaluated longitudinal data from 277 persons who participated in all 6 interviews including questions about heart complaints.


RESULTS
Over 20 years, heart complaints were reported by two thirds of participants, and the frequency of depression was 11.4%. At the age of 40/ 41, heart complaints were significantly associated with earlier heart complaints and major depression, both more often in women. Recurrent brief depression showed a tendency, but neither minor depression nor depressive symptoms were predictive for later heart complaints.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that major depression is a predictor for heart complaints at the age of 40 and that the severity of depressive disorder in younger age has an effect on subsequent heart complaints. Follow-up data will help to elucidate whether these subjective heart complaints show any correlation with a later coronary heart disease.
Eich
Dominique
D
Department of Clinical and Social Psychiatry, Zurich University Psychiatric Hospital, Lenggstrasse 31, PO Box 1931, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland. dominique.eich@puk.zh.ch
Neuhaus
Christoph
C
Gamma
Alex
A
Angst
Jules
J
Rössler
Wulf
W
Ajdacic-Gross
Vladeta
V
Opravil
Milos
M
D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology