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.
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.
Authors: R B Williams; D A Marchuk; K M Gadde; J C Barefoot; K Grichnik; M J Helms; C M Kuhn; J G Lewis; S M Schanberg; M Stafford-Smith; E C Suarez; G L Clary; I K Svenson; I C Siegler Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2001 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Tené T Lewis; Susan A Everson-Rose; Alicia Colvin; Karen Matthews; Joyce T Bromberger; Kim Sutton-Tyrrell Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2009-02-02 Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Lawrence C Perlmuter; Garima Sarda; Vanessa Casavant; Kimberly O'Hara; Mariah Hindes; Patrick T Knott; Aron D Mosnaim Journal: Clin Auton Res Date: 2011-09-25 Impact factor: 4.435
Authors: Leila Shahabi; Kelly Karavolos; Susan A Everson-Rose; Tené T Lewis; Karen A Matthews; Kim Sutton-Tyrrell; Lynda H Powell Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2016-05 Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: John M Violanti; Luenda E Charles; Ja K Gu; Cecil M Burchfiel; Michael E Andrew; P Nedra Joseph; Joan M Dorn Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2012-11-25 Impact factor: 3.015