Depression, Stress, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in India Heart Watch: A Population-Based Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: A population-based study to determine association of depression and stress with cardiovascular risk factors was performed. Methodology: We evaluated 5234 urban subjects (men 2891, women 2343) in 11 cities. Prevalence of depression, and perceived stress (work, home, or financial for >12 months) and cardiovascular risk factors was determined. Associations were tested using logistic regression, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) calculated. Results: Age-adjusted percent prevalence (95% CI) in men and women of depression was 23.5 (21.9-25.0) and 24.7 (23.1-26.3), home stress 56.0 (54.2-57.8) and 60.5 (58.5- 62.5), work stress 46.3 (44.5-48.1) and 36.5 (34.5-38.4), financial stress 54.4 (52.6-56.2) and 55.5 (34.5-38.4), all three 30.7 (29.0-32.4) and 23.8 (22.1-25.5) and depression with all three in 11.3 (10.1-12.4) and 7.8 (6.7-8.9). In individuals with depression v/s without, prevalence (%) was significantly greater for physical inactivity (men 46.6 v/s 36.4, women 51.9 v/s 45.5), high waist-hip ratio (men 80.2 v/s 67.2, women 88.5 v/s 83.4), low HDL cholesterol (men 37.7 v/s 32.3, women 58.1 v/s 52.0), and diabetes (men 17.5 v/s 15.5, women 14.5 v/s 12.4) (p<0.05). Subjects with different stresses had greater prevalence of physical inactivity, truncal obesity, hypertension, low HDL cholesterol, and diabetes (p<0.05). Conclusions: Depression and stress are associated with decreased physical activity and greater truncal obesity, low HDLcholesterol, and diabetes in India.

Keywords

• Cardiovascular risk factors, Coronary heart disease; Diabetes, Hypertension, Metabolic syndrome, Physical inactivity.