Women diagnosed with perinatal depression are at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease within the next two decades compared to those who do not experience such depression during or after pregnancy, a study published in the European Heart Journal today reveals.
Perinatal depression, defined as depression occurring during pregnancy or following childbirth, affects approximately 20% of women globally. This groundbreaking research is the inaugural study to examine cardiovascular health after perinatal depression, analysing data from about 600,000 women. It discovered notably higher risks of conditions such as high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, and heart failure.
The study was conducted by Dr Emma Bränn, Dr Donghao Lu, and their team at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. Dr Lu noted that prior research by their group linked perinatal depression with a heightened risk of various health issues, including premenstrual and autoimmune disorders, suicidal behaviour, and even premature death. “Given that cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, our team was keen to explore whether a history of perinatal depression could be indicative of an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases,” Dr Lu explained.
The researchers utilised the Swedish Medical Birth Register for this study, which documents every birth in Sweden. They compared 55,539 Swedish women diagnosed with perinatal depression between 2001 and 2014 with 545,567 Swedish women who gave birth during the same period but did not suffer from perinatal depression. Follow-up continued until 2020 to monitor the onset of any cardiovascular diseases.
The findings revealed that 6.4% of women with perinatal depression developed cardiovascular disease, compared to 3.7% of those without perinatal depression, reflecting a 36% increased risk. The risks of developing high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, and heart failure were about 50%, 37%, and 36% higher, respectively, among those with perinatal depression.
Dr Bränn, the study’s senior author, emphasised the importance of these findings in identifying individuals at higher risk of cardiovascular disease to mitigate this risk. “These results underscore the significance of comprehensive maternal care that equally focuses on physical and mental health,” she remarked. The pathways through which perinatal depression may lead to cardiovascular disease are still not well understood, indicating a need for further research to develop effective prevention strategies for both depression and cardiovascular disease.
In a notable comparison, the study also examined sisters of women who suffered from perinatal depression and found that they had a 20% increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Dr Bränn suggested that genetic or familial factors might play a role in this disparity. “There might be other contributing factors, similar to those observed in other forms of depression and cardiovascular disease, such as changes in the immune system, oxidative stress, and lifestyle changes associated with major depression,” she added.
More information: Donghao Lu et al, Perinatal depression and risk of maternal cardiovascular disease: a Swedish nationwide study, European Heart Journal. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae170
Journal information: European Heart Journal Provided by European Society of Cardiology
