Easing Depression May Boost Heart Health, Study Finds

THURSDAY, March 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A new study finds that treating depression with antidepressants may have an added bonus: reducing heart risks.

"Screening and treatment of depressive symptoms should be a high priority" in heart patients, lead author Heidi May, a cardiovascular epidemiologist at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City, said in a news release from the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

The findings are scheduled to be presented March 15 at the ACC's annual meeting, in San Diego.

In its study, May's team analyzed health data from more than 5,300 people in Utah with moderate to severe depression.

People who took antidepressants alone had a 53 percent lower risk of death, heart disease and stroke over three years than those who did not take antidepressants or statins. Taking a cholesterol-lowering statin, either alone or with antidepressants, did not significantly reduce the risk, the researchers found.

The level of depression appeared to be key, May said. While antidepressant therapy didn't seem to boost the heart health of people with little or no depression, it did have an effect on those with more serious depression.

The study couldn't prove that the use of antidepressants helped cause a lowering of heart risks. However, depression is a known risk factor for heart disease, May said.

Her team also did not examine how antidepressants might prevent heart disease. But May theorized that as depressive symptoms ease, people's behaviors might change in ways that help their hearts.

"For example, people who are having depressive symptoms may not be as inclined to exercise, practice good health habits or comply with health advice," May said in the news release. "Using an antidepressant to reduce depressive symptoms might also help people better take care of their heart health."

One outside expert agreed.

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Easing Depression May Boost Heart Health, Study Finds