Impaired endothelial function in coronary heart disease patients with depressive symptomatology.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess whether depressive symptomatology was associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). BACKGROUND: In patients with CHD, the presence of depression is associated with a two to four times increased risk of mortality, but the disease pathways involved are uncertain. Endothelial dysfunction is an established risk factor for cardiovascular events in patients with CHD. METHODS: Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, a measure of endothelial function, was assessed in 143 patients (99 men, 44 women), ages 40 to 84 years (mean age, 63 +/- 10 years), with documented CHD. RESULTS: Patients with significant depressive symptomatology, as indicated by a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score > or = 10 (n = 47) showed attenuated FMD (p = 0.001) compared with patients that were not depressed (BDI < 10; n = 96). The use of antidepressant medication was associated with improved FMD (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The increased risk of cardiovascular events in CHD patients with elevated symptoms of depression may be mediated, in part, by endothelial dysfunction.
Duke Scholars
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- Ultrasonography
- Risk Factors
- Risk Assessment
- Regional Blood Flow
- Probability
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Humans
- Female
- Endothelium, Vascular
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Ultrasonography
- Risk Factors
- Risk Assessment
- Regional Blood Flow
- Probability
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Humans
- Female
- Endothelium, Vascular