Depressive Symptoms During Childhood and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Black and White Men.

• NCJ Number: 254423
• Journal: Psychosomatic Medicine Volume: 81 Issue: 2 Dated: 2019 Pages: 176-183
• Author(s): Karen A. Matthews; Richard J Jennings; Laisze Lee; Dustin A Pardini
• Date Published: 2019
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 96-MU-FX-0012
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Labor
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the prospective relationship of depressive symptoms in childhood and adolescence with adult risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Black and White men.

Abstract

Depressive symptoms and major depression predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors in adulthood; however, evidence regarding the role of depression in the development of CVD risk in youth is minimal. In the current study, health behaviors and medical history were measured in 165 Black and 146 White men (mean age - 32); a subset in the Pittsburgh area had a fasting blood draw to measure metabolic syndrome and inflammation. Adult CVD risk factors were related to depressive symptoms and childhood socioeconomic status (SES) prospectively measured annually from ages 7 to 16 years, followed by adjustments for adult SES and depressive symptoms. Although depressive symptoms in childhood may predict later adverse health behaviors in Black and White men, no evidence was found for an association between childhood depressive symptoms with metabolic syndrome or inflammation markers at ages approximately 32 years. The nature of the sample and lack of measurement of depressive disorder diagnosis tempered the conclusions. Future research is needed to determine associations with biological measures at later life span phases. (Publisher abstract modified)