Women in their 40s and 50s with depression are more than twice as likely to suffer a stroke, warns a landmark study.
Striking evidence suggests that the condition makes them more vulnerable in this age group – younger than previously expected.
In the 12-year study of thousands of women aged 47 to 52, it was found those with depression were 2.4 times more likely to suffer a stroke compared to those without.
Vulnerable: Depression is a key factor in giving middle-aged women strokes
Even after taking out risk factors, depressed women were still nearly twice as likely to suffer a stroke.
Study author Caroline Jackson said current guidelines for stroke prevention overlook the potential role of depression. ‘Doctors need to recognize the serious nature of poor mental health and what effects it can have in the long term,’ she said. ‘We may need more targeted approaches to prevent and treat depression in younger women.’
Depression affects one in ten adults in the UK at any time. There has been a big rise in the prescription of anti-depressants in the last 20 years, particularly for women.
Dr Jackson, an epidemiologist, and colleagues at the University of Queensland analysed results from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. This was the first large-scale study examining the link between depression and stroke in younger middle-aged women.
More than 10,500 answered questions about their mental and physical health and other personal details every three years from 1998-2010.
Increase: An American study of an older group of women found a 30 per cent higher risk of stroke among those who were depressed
One in four reported being depressed, based on their replies to a standardised depression scale and recent use of anti-depressants. There were 177 first-time strokes during the study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers took into account factors which can affect stroke risk, such as age, socioeconomic status and lifestyle habits like smoking, drinking and physical activity.
Also considered were physiological conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, being overweight and diabetes.
The closest comparison was a US study of women whose average age was 14 years older. This found a 30 per cent higher risk of stroke among those who were depressed.
Contributing factors: High blood pressure, heart disease and being overweight also heighten the risk
Dr Jackson said she would expect similar results to her study in America and Europe.
The reasons for any link are unclear but the effects on blood vessels of the body’s inflammatory and immunological processes may be involved, she said.
The reasons for any link are unclear but the effects on blood vessels of the body’s inflammatory and immunological processes may be involved, she said.
Other possible factors are that patients with depression tend to have less healthy diets and take less exercise. They are also less likely to take medicine if they have high blood pressure or cholesterol, both risk factors for stroke.
Some anti-depressants may also slightly raise the threat.
Dr Jackson reassured women that the absolute risk of stroke was still fairly low in this age group.
In the study, about 1.5 per cent of the total had a stroke, rising to just over 2 per cent among those with depression.
In the study, about 1.5 per cent of the total had a stroke, rising to just over 2 per cent among those with depression.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2325805/Depressed-women-twice-likely-stroke-Health-risk-applies-40s-50s-warns-major-new-study.html#ixzz2TZ44fVDf
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