Elevated depressive symptoms may lead to increased total cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in older black patients but not in white patients, research suggests

A study has revealed a significant, independent association between depressive symptoms and total CVD mortality, ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality, and stroke mortality in black patients aged 65 years and older. These associations were non-significant in white patients. This provides strong support for the idea that blacks may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of depressive symptoms on CVD.