Depression as a Stroke Risk Factor

Although depression is clearly linked with increased rates of incident cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease, its relation to incident stroke has not been as well defined. Now, researchers have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the relation between baseline depression and risk for subsequent stroke.

Among 28 eligible studies involving 317,540 adults followed for 2 to 29 years, 8478 incident strokes were identified. The interstudy heterogeneity was moderate to high. In most studies, investigators assessed depression via self-reported scales, measured depression only at baseline, studied U.S. or European cohorts, and obtained data on stroke from death certificates or medic…