title: Depression, stroke and gender: evidence of a stronger association in men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Depression is associated with an increased risk for stroke. The aim of this study was to examine whether demographic and socioeconomic factors modify this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  This follow-up study comprised 137 305 men and 188 924 women aged ≥30 years from a nationwide sample of primary healthcare centres in Sweden. We identified 4718 first-ever stroke cases (2217 men and 2501 women) during the follow-up period (2005-2007). Multilevel logistic regression models were used to calculate ORs and examine interactions in order to determine whether the association between depression and stroke differs by demographic or socioeconomic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression was associated with significantly greater odds of stroke after adjustment for potential confounding factors (OR=1.22, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.38). Interaction tests showed that the effect of depression on stroke was higher in men compared with women (the difference in OR between men and women was 1.30, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.68), that is, the association between depression and stroke was modified by gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the depression-stroke association is modified by gender. Further studies are required to examine the underlying mechanisms in men and women.
authors: Centre for Community-based Health Research and Education (COHRE), Organization for the Promotion of Project Research, Shimane University, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Hamano
authors: Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors: Xinjun
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors: Sara Larsson
authors: SL
authors: Lönn
authors: Centre for Community-based Health Research and Education (COHRE), Organization for the Promotion of Project Research, Shimane University, Izumo, Japan Department of Functional Pathology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Nabika
authors: Centre for Community-based Health Research and Education (COHRE), Organization for the Promotion of Project Research, Shimane University, Izumo, Japan Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors: Kuninori
authors: K
authors: Shiwaku
authors: Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Sundquist
authors: Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Sundquist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden
keywords: DEPRESSION; EPIDEMIOLOGY; STROKE