Depression poses no significant risk of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis

Individuals with depression do not appear to be at increased risk of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, according to a study.

The study included 3,920 individuals (mean age 54.7 years, 66.4 percent men) without history of coronary artery disease. All of them voluntarily underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography to determine the degree and extent of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis (≥50-percent diameter stenosis was defined as significant), as well as depression screening using the Beck Depression Inventory (cutoff value score of ≥16) as part of a general health examination.

Of the participants, 272 (6.9 percent) had depression, as indicated by a Beck Depression Inventory score of 16 or higher.

Multivariable models adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors showed no significant association between depression and any coronary plaque (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.05, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.78–1.41; p=0.746), calcified plaque (OR, 0.95, 95 percent CI, 0.71–1.29; p=0.758), noncalcified plaque (OR, 1.31, 95 percent CI, 0.79–2.17; p=0.305), mixed plaque (OR, 1.16, 95 percent CI, 0.60–2.23; p=0.659), or significant coronary artery stenosis (OR, 1.22, 95 percent CI, 0.73–2.03; p=0.450).

Similar results were obtained in the propensity score‐matched population (n=1,318), with none of the coronary artery disease measures of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis having significant association with depression (all p>0.05).