Study shows men and women who are more physically fit at midlife have a lower risk of depression and cardiovascular mortality
Depression is known to be a risk factor for high cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, especially in older people.
A new study however has revealed that men and women who are more physically fit at midlife have a lower risk of depression and cardiovascular mortality after a diagnosis of depression in later life. The study theorised that fitness is an important part of a primary preventive strategy for cardiovascular disease and depression. The study by researchers from the University of North Texas and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center has been published in JAMA psychiatry.
Studies suggest that as many as one in five patients with CVD have depression; it is particularly common after stroke. Conversely, depression is linked with CVD mortality. In fact, a 2014 American Heart Association Scientific Statement evaluated 53 studies and concluded that depression should be elevated as a risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The Global Burden of Disease study estimates that India’s CVD death rate is 272 per 100 000 population. It is higher than the global average of 235 per 100 000 population.
Depression and CVD are the most common causes of disability in the developed nations of the world. A connection between depression and CVD has been recognized for a number of years. A higher prevalence of depression has been found in patients with myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure.
India’s CVD death rate is 272 per 100 000 population. It is higher than the global average of 235 per 100 000 population
The present study looked at 19 241 patients. After excluding 901 individuals with a history of depression and 351 individuals with a history of CVD, including myocardial infarction and stroke, at the time of the midlife examination, a final sample size of 17 989 was included in the analysis. In the JAMA article, the researchers concluded: “Midlife fitness is associated with a lower risk of later-life depression, CVD mortality, and CVD mortality after incident later-life depression. These findings suggest the importance of midlife fitness in primary prevention of depression and subsequent CVD mortality in older age and should encourage physicians to consider fitness and physical activity in promoting healthy aging.”
