Full Citation
Title: Hopelessness, depressive symptoms, and carotid atherosclerosis in women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) heart study.
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2009
ISBN:
ISSN: 1524-4628
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.109.554519
NSFID:
PMCID:
PMID: 19713542
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Depression and hopelessness are associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality; however, few studies have compared these constructs early in the atherogenic process, particularly in women or minorities. METHODS This cross-sectional study examined associations of hopelessness and depressive symptoms with carotid artery intimal-medial thickening (IMT) in 559 women (62% white, 38% black; mean+/-SD age, 50.2+/-2.8 years) without evidence of clinical CVD from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) Heart Study. Hopelessness was measured by 2 questionnaire items; depressive symptoms were measured with the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Mean and maximum IMT were assessed by B-mode ultrasonography of the carotid arteries. RESULTS Increasing hopelessness was significantly related to higher mean (P=0.0139) and maximum (P=0.0297) IMT in regression models adjusted for age, race, site, income, and CVD risk factors. A weaker pattern of associations was noted for depressive symptoms and mean (P=0.1056) and maximum (P=0.0691) IMT. Modeled simultaneously in a risk factor-adjusted model, hopelessness was related to greater mean IMT (P=0.0217) and maximum IMT (P=0.0409), but depressive symptoms were unrelated to either outcome (P>0.4). No interactions with race or synergistic effects of depressive symptoms and hopelessness were observed. CONCLUSIONS Among middle-aged women, higher levels of hopelessness are associated with greater subclinical atherosclerosis independent of age, race, income, CVD risk factors, and depressive symptoms.
Url: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19713542
Url: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=PMC2762349
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Authors: Whipple, Mary O; Lewis, Tené T; Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim; Matthews, Karen A; Barinas-Mitchell, Emma; Powell, Lynda H; Everson-Rose, Susan A
Periodical (Full): Stroke
Issue: 10
Volume: 40
Pages: 3166-72
Countries: