title: Is depression a risk factor for heart complaints? Longitudinal aspects in the Zurich study.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Clinical and Social Psychiatry, Zurich University Psychiatric Hospital, Lenggstrasse 31, PO Box 1931, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland. dominique.eich@puk.zh.ch
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Eich
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Neuhaus
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Gamma
authors: Jules
authors: J
authors: Angst
authors: Wulf
authors: W
authors: Rössler
authors: Vladeta
authors: V
authors: Ajdacic-Gross
authors: Milos
authors: M
authors: Opravil
mesh_terms: 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