Could Anti-Depressants Help Prevent Heart Disease?

A new study show that patients who were treated with antidepressants had lower mortality rates, stroke and artery disease when compared to those who did not take any medication for depression.

The study, based on three years of research, involved about 5,311 people who were affected by severe depression out of over 26,000 patients who were treated at the involved medical facility. The results showed that 20 percent had moderate or severe depression while the remaining 21,517 patients didn't show depression based on a 9-question depression screen.

"This study demonstrates the importance of evaluating patients for depression,not only in terms of improving their mood, but reducing their risk for heartdisease," said lead study author, Heidi May PhD, a public health scientist, in a news release.

Furthermore, study findings suggest that there was good protection in treating the disease with anti-depressants when compared to treating it with an addition of statins.

"Antidepressants were not associated with a reduced cardiovascular risk in people with little or no depression, but in moderately to severely depressed people, antidepressants were shown to significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes," Dr. May added."We thought we'd see an additive effect," Dr. May says. The researchers say, "in the more depressed people, the antidepressant really was what made the biggest difference."

However, the researchers did not examine how antidepressants could potentially prevent heart disease. Easing symptoms could potentially make an impact on at-risk individual's behaviors more than taking medications, such as a healthy diet and exercise.

The findings will be presented on March 15 at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). The annual meeting will be held from March 14 to 16 in San Diego.