Cardiovascular risk factors in affective disorder.

100 patients with affective disorder (unipolar affective disorder and bipolar affective disorder) were evaluated for evidence of increased risk for the major cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and cigarette use. Unipolar affective disorder patients showed no evidence of increased cardiovascular risk compared to population controls. Bipolar affective disorder patients displayed increased systolic blood pressure, definite hypertension, and use of cigarettes. These findings are consistent with a link between affective disorders and excess cardiovascular mortality.