Women's Health
Depression around time of pregnancy may raise risk of cardiovascular disease
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- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Women diagnosed with perinatal depression — which happens during pregnancy or in the weeks after birth — are significantly more likely to develop cardiovascular disease later, according to an analysis published in the August 2024 issue of the European Heart Journal.
The study involved data from more than 600,000 Swedish women over 14 years (including 55,539 diagnosed with perinatal depression and 545,567 without the mood disorder, who were matched by age and the years of their pregnancies). Researchers tracked all participants for at least six years and used national health records to find out who subsequently developed cardiovascular disease. To minimize the influence of genetics, the authors did a separate comparison between a subgroup of women with perinatal depression and their sisters who'd had babies but no depression.
Women with perinatal depression were 36% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those without it. The strongest links were found for high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. Compared with their sisters, women with perinatal depression had a 20% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Women's reproductive history, including perinatal depression, should be considered when assessing their cardiovascular risks, the study authors said.
Image: © da-kuk/Getty Images
About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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