"Our research group has already found that perinatal depression is linked to an increased risk of several other health issues, including premenstrual disorders, autoimmune disorders and suicidal behaviour, as well as premature death,” said study author Dr. Donghao Lu from the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden in a press release.
“Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death globally and there has been an ongoing discussion about including reproductive health when assessing the risk among women. We wanted to know if a history of perinatal depression could help predict cardiovascular disease risk,” he added.
For the study, the researchers examined data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register, including 55,539 Swedish women who were diagnosed with perinatal depression between 2001 and 2014, and another group of 545 567 women who gave birth during the same period without a diagnosis. The women were followed until 2020 to see whether they developed cardiovascular disease.
Ultimately, 6.4% of women with perinatal depression developed cardiovascular disease, whereas the same was true for 3.7% of those without the condition. Women with perinatal depression had a 36% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, a 50% higher risk of high blood pressure, a 37% higher risk of ischemic heart disease, and a 36% higher risk of heart failure than women without the condition.
The researchers noted that how perinatal depression leads to cardiovascular disease remains unclear. They did find, however, that women with perinatal depression had a 20% higher risk of cardiovascular risk than their sisters, suggesting that genetic factors may be involved.
Study author Dr Emma Bränn from the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, said in a press release:
"Our findings may help identify people who are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease so that steps can be taken to reduce this risk. This study also adds to the established health risks of perinatal depression. We know that perinatal depression is both preventable and treatable, and for many people it's the first episode of depression they've ever experienced. Our findings provide more reason for ensuring maternal care is holistic, with equal attention on both physical and mental health."
Sources: Science Daily, European Heart Journal
