Researchers have found that depression poses a significant risk to developing, and dying, from a stroke. In an article published in the September 21, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health revealed the results of their meta-analysis of nearly 30 studies that included over 300,000 patients.
Investigators discovered that depression was associated with a 45 per cent increased risk for a total stroke, a 55 per cent increase for fatal stroke and a 25 per cent increased risk for ischemic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke and depression were not found to have any link.
The article speculates on the reasons why depression and stroke risk exist, which include poor health behaviours, obesity, co-morbidities (diabetes, hypertension) and effects from changes to the neuroendocrine and immunological systems.
To read the online synopsis, go to www.sciencedaily.com.