In a new study, researchers found further evidence of the link between depressive symptoms and an increased risk of heart disease and early death.
The global study tracked 145,862 middle-aged participants from 21 countries and found a 20% increase in heart disease and death in people with four or more depressive symptoms.
The risks were twice as high in urban areas — where the majority of the global population will be living by 2050 — and more than double in men.
The research was conducted by a team at Simon Fraser University and elsewhere.
Depression and mental health issues are highly prevalent in Canada.
One in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem during their lifetime and 8% will experience a major depressive event.
The team says the results are timely as experts anticipate an increase in the number of people dealing with mental health issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The data suggest that depressive symptoms should be considered as important as traditional risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol when preventing heart disease and early death.
The study results lend credibility to the existing World Health Organization (WHO) policies to integrate treatment and prevention of mental disorders into primary care.
The team concludes that a greater awareness of the physical health risks associated with depression is needed.
They suggest that a comprehensive approach to tackling non-communicable diseases and mental disorders — to achieve health-related UN Sustainable Development Goals — needs to be a global priority.
One author of the study is health sciences professor Scott Lear.
The study is published in JAMA Psychiatry.
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