Cardiovascular disease and death associated with depression and antidepressants in the Melbourne Longitudinal Studies on Healthy Ageing (MELSHA)

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death may be associated with depression and anti-depressants, but published findings remain equivocal. The authors aimed to determine the risk of CVD incidence and death associated with several classifications of depression. Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted (1994-2006) in a regionally representative sample of 1000 non-institutionalised older Australians age 65+ years (47% men). Endpoints were non-fatal CVD incidence and death over 10 and 12-years, respectively. Depression incidence was assessed at 2-years. Depression related predictors were defined by symptoms (Psychogeriatric Assessment Scales, depression scale) and/or antidepressants to determine independent and/or joint effects on endpoints. Cox regressions determined unadjusted and multiple-adjusted (for significant covariates) hazard ratios (HR). Results: Baseline response rate was 70.3%. Aggregate dropout rate was approximately 24% for survivors at biennial follow-ups, but death status was ascertained for all participants. Several classifications of depression predicted death in unadjusted analyses (39-60% >1), but effects disappeared in multiple-adjusted analyses (in which all HRs became <1 and non-significant). Depression related predictors were thus not associated with CVD incidence; or death after accounting for confounding mostly by CVD, diabetes and poor functional health covariates. Prevalent arthritis, respiratory disease and daily pain were predictors (P