Daijiworld Media Network - Beijing

Beijing, Mar 10: Middle-aged and older adults with depression or visual impairment face a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new longitudinal research based on data from China.

Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease and stroke, remain among the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. Researchers noted that both depression and visual impairment are common in ageing populations and have individually been associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

The study analysed data from 18,633 participants aged 45 years and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study conducted between 2011 and 2018. Participants were divided into four groups: those with neither condition, those with depression only, those with visual impairment only, and those with both conditions.

Researchers found that all groups with either or both conditions had a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared with those without either condition. Participants with depression alone had the highest risk, followed by those with both depression and visual impairment. Those with only visual impairment also showed an increased risk, although lower than the other groups.

The findings also indicated that while the presence of both conditions increased the risk of cardiovascular disease, the combined effect did not exceed the risk associated with depression alone.

Researchers said the results highlight the importance of screening for depressive symptoms in older adults as part of strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease.

The study noted that its strengths included a large and nationally representative sample and a long-term follow-up. However, researchers also pointed out limitations such as reliance on self-reported data and the observational design, which does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

The authors concluded that integrated healthcare approaches addressing both mental health and sensory impairment could help reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in ageing populations.