A study published in the European Heart Journal finds that women with perinatal depression are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in middle adulthood. Study: Perinatal depression and risk of maternal cardiovascular disease: a Swedish nationwide study . Image Credit: christinarosepix / Shutterstock The prevalence of cardiovascular disease is sharply increasing worldwide mainly because of the widespread changes in lifestyle behaviors, including unhealthy dietary habits and lack of physical activity.
Hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and smoking are considered significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease in both men and women. Certain pregnancy-related complications, including miscarriage, pre-term birth, stillbirth, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes, have recently been identified as female-specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Many of these pregnancy-related risk factors are associated with the risk of developing perinatal depression, which is defined as a depressive episode occurring during pregnancy or after giving birth.
Existing literature has shown a bidirectional association between major, non-perinatal depression and cardiovascular disease. Antepartum (the time period before childbirth) depression has also been linked to short-term risk of cardiovascular disease. In this study, scientists have investigated the relationship between perinatal depression and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease in Swedish women.
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