Role of Late-Life Depression in the Association of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease With All-Cause Mortality: Cardiovascular Health Study

Nicole M. Armstrong, Michelle C. Carlson, Qian Li Xue, Jennifer Schrack, Mercedes R. Carnethon, Paulo H.M. Chaves, Alden L. Gross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate whether late-life depression mediates the association of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) with all-cause mortality. Method: Using data from 3,473 Cardiovascular Health Study participants, the Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the direct and indirect (via late-life depression) effects of the association between baseline subclinical CVD and all-cause mortality with weights derived from multivariable logistic regression of late-life depression on subclinical CVD. Results: Subclinical CVD led to a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.51, 95% confidence interval, [CI] = [1.42, 1.94]). Total effect of subclinical CVD on all-cause mortality was decomposed into direct (HR = 1.41, 95% CI = [1.37, 1.58]) and indirect (HR = 1.07, 95% CI = [1.01, 1.23]) effects; 16.3% of the total effect of subclinical CVD on all-cause mortality was mediated by late-life depression. Discussion: Late-life depression accounts for little, if any, of the association between subclinical CVD, a risk factor of all-cause mortality, and all-cause mortality.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)652-666
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Aging and Health
Volume31
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2019

Keywords

  • depression
  • mortality
  • subclinical cardiovascular disease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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