Cardiovascular risk factors and life events as antecedents of depressive symptoms in middle and early-old age: PATH Through Life Study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and life events (LE) as predictors of depressive symptoms in a mid-life and an early late-life cohort to determine whether they had independent or interacting effects, and whether there were age differences in the effects.


METHODS
Cohorts aged 40 to 44 years (n = 2530) and 60 to 64 years (n = 2551) at baseline (Wave 1) were followed up after 4 years (Wave 2) as part of the PATH Through Life Study based in Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia. Cross-sectional analyses evaluated rates of CVRF and LE in depressed compared with nondepressed participants. Hierarchical generalized linear models were used to evaluate demographic variables, CVRF (diabetes, smoking, alcohol, body mass index, cholesterol medication, hypertension), LE, and Wave 1 depressive symptoms as predictors of depressive symptoms at Wave 2.


RESULTS
At baseline, those with high levels of depressive symptoms were more likely to report smoking, using cholesterol-lowering medications, hypertension, diabetes, past stroke, and higher body mass index. Predictors of depressive symptoms at Wave 2 in the cohort of 40- to 44-year-old persons included Wave 1 depressive symptoms, diabetes, and LE at Wave 2. In the cohort of 60- to 64-year-old individuals, Wave 1 depression, stroke, smoking, low education, and Wave 2 LE predicted depressive symptoms. There was no evidence of interactions between CVRF and LE.


CONCLUSIONS
LE and CVRF are independent sets of risk factors for depressive symptoms with different effects in the 40- to 44-year-old and 60- to 64-year-old cohorts. These findings have implications for preventative strategies for depression.
Anstey
Kaarin J
KJ
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia. kaarin.anstey@anu.edu.au
Burns
Richard
R
Butterworth
Peter
P
Windsor
Tim D
TD
Christensen
Helen
H
Sachdev
Perminder
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors