Depressive symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death among the elderly

Aims Mental depression is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, but the reasons for this association are not well known. We tested the hypothesis that depressive symptoms (DS) may specifically increase the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among the elderly subjects. Method...

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Published in:European Heart Journal
Main Authors: Luukinen, H., Laippala, P., Huikuri, H.V.
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2003
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/24/22/2021
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehj.2003.09.003
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spelling fthighwire:oai:open-archive.highwire.org:ehj:24/22/2021 2023-05-15T17:42:52+02:00 Depressive symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death among the elderly Luukinen, H. Laippala, P. Huikuri, H.V. 2003-11-02 00:00:00.0 text/html http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/24/22/2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehj.2003.09.003 en eng Oxford University Press http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/24/22/2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ehj.2003.09.003 Copyright (C) 2003, European Society of Cardiology Clinical research TEXT 2003 fthighwire https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehj.2003.09.003 2015-03-01T00:56:13Z Aims Mental depression is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, but the reasons for this association are not well known. We tested the hypothesis that depressive symptoms (DS) may specifically increase the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among the elderly subjects. Methods All persons aged 70 years or over of a defined area in Northern Finland ( n =1113) were the target population, and 915 (82%); 336 men and 579 women, participated in the questionnaire on depressive symptoms according to the Short Zung Depression Rating Scale. Potential risk factors of SCD were examined in the same connection, and the mode of death was examined via the official death certificates during the following eight years. SCD and non-SCD as well as overall mortality, cardiac mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) were the end-points. Results Four hundred and seventy-six subjects out of 915 (52%) died during the follow-up of 8 years. Thirty-eight of deaths were SCDs (8%) and non-SCD occurred in 106 subjects (22%). In univariate analysis, a high score of DS was a significant predictor of subsequent SCD; hazard ratio 2.67 (95% confidence interval 1.34–5.32), non-SCD; 1.67 (1.06–2.63), cardiac mortality; 1.90 (1.30–2.78) and total mortality; 1.88 (1.52–2.32), but not that of non-fatal MI; 1.74 (0.89–3.38). SCD was also predicted by gender ( P <0.01), MI ( P <0.01) and tablet- or insulin-treated diabetes mellitus ( P <0.01). In multivariate Cox regression analysis by adjusting for the clinical variables, high score of DS remained as a significant predictor of SCD; hazard ratio 2.74 (1.37–5.50) and total mortality; 1.70 (1.37–2.10), but not of cardiac mortality 1.50 (0.998–2.27), non-SCD; 1.38 (0.85–2.24) and non-fatal MI; 1.37 (0.69–2.71). Conclusion Depressive symptoms increase the risk of SCD, but not that of non-SCD and non-fatal MI among the elderly subjects. Text Northern Finland HighWire Press (Stanford University) European Heart Journal 24 22 2021 2026
institution Open Polar
collection HighWire Press (Stanford University)
op_collection_id fthighwire
language English
topic Clinical research
spellingShingle Clinical research
Luukinen, H.
Laippala, P.
Huikuri, H.V.
Depressive symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death among the elderly
topic_facet Clinical research
description Aims Mental depression is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, but the reasons for this association are not well known. We tested the hypothesis that depressive symptoms (DS) may specifically increase the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among the elderly subjects. Methods All persons aged 70 years or over of a defined area in Northern Finland ( n =1113) were the target population, and 915 (82%); 336 men and 579 women, participated in the questionnaire on depressive symptoms according to the Short Zung Depression Rating Scale. Potential risk factors of SCD were examined in the same connection, and the mode of death was examined via the official death certificates during the following eight years. SCD and non-SCD as well as overall mortality, cardiac mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) were the end-points. Results Four hundred and seventy-six subjects out of 915 (52%) died during the follow-up of 8 years. Thirty-eight of deaths were SCDs (8%) and non-SCD occurred in 106 subjects (22%). In univariate analysis, a high score of DS was a significant predictor of subsequent SCD; hazard ratio 2.67 (95% confidence interval 1.34–5.32), non-SCD; 1.67 (1.06–2.63), cardiac mortality; 1.90 (1.30–2.78) and total mortality; 1.88 (1.52–2.32), but not that of non-fatal MI; 1.74 (0.89–3.38). SCD was also predicted by gender ( P <0.01), MI ( P <0.01) and tablet- or insulin-treated diabetes mellitus ( P <0.01). In multivariate Cox regression analysis by adjusting for the clinical variables, high score of DS remained as a significant predictor of SCD; hazard ratio 2.74 (1.37–5.50) and total mortality; 1.70 (1.37–2.10), but not of cardiac mortality 1.50 (0.998–2.27), non-SCD; 1.38 (0.85–2.24) and non-fatal MI; 1.37 (0.69–2.71). Conclusion Depressive symptoms increase the risk of SCD, but not that of non-SCD and non-fatal MI among the elderly subjects.
format Text
author Luukinen, H.
Laippala, P.
Huikuri, H.V.
author_facet Luukinen, H.
Laippala, P.
Huikuri, H.V.
author_sort Luukinen, H.
title Depressive symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death among the elderly
title_short Depressive symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death among the elderly
title_full Depressive symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death among the elderly
title_fullStr Depressive symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death among the elderly
title_full_unstemmed Depressive symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death among the elderly
title_sort depressive symptoms and the risk of sudden cardiac death among the elderly
publisher Oxford University Press
publishDate 2003
url http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/24/22/2021
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehj.2003.09.003
genre Northern Finland
genre_facet Northern Finland
op_relation http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/24/22/2021
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ehj.2003.09.003
op_rights Copyright (C) 2003, European Society of Cardiology
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehj.2003.09.003
container_title European Heart Journal
container_volume 24
container_issue 22
container_start_page 2021
op_container_end_page 2026
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