Aortic Stiffness Is Linked to Depression in Middle-Aged Men

Aortic stiffness is associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and related symptoms in middle-aged men, but not in women, according to a recent study.

For their study, the researchers assessed 2757 men and women who were enrolled in the Maastricht study.
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Carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was measured using applanation tonometry, and depression was assessed via the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

Following adjustment, results indicated that cfPWV was associated with MDD in men (fully adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.36), but not in women (OR 1.57), aged 60 years or younger.

In addition, cfPWV was found to be associated with higher PHQ-9 scores in men (rate ratio 1.28), but not in women (rate ratio 1.11), aged 60 years or younger.

They noted that neither of these associations were observed in participants older than age 60 years.

“Greater aortic stiffness is associated with MDD and depressive symptoms among middle-aged men and to a lesser extent in women, whereas this association was not observed in old age,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Onete V, Henry RM, Sep SJS, et al. Arterial stiffness is associated with depression in middle-aged men - the Maastricht Study. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2018;43(2):111-119. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29481318.