While the arrival of a newborn can be a time of pure happiness for some women, others may be affected by perinatal depression, characterized by persistent depressive symptoms that can appear during pregnancy or the first year postpartum. She would touch 1 in 8 women, according to the Geneva University Hospitals website. In addition to being little recognized by the medical profession and society, this disorder could have numerous consequences on women’s health.
A recent study published on June 18, 2024 in theEuropean Heart Journal was precisely interested in the potential cardiovascular consequences of perinatal depression. “Our research group has previously found that perinatal depression is linked to an increased risk of several other health problems, including premenstrual disordersautoimmune disorders and suicidal behavioras well as premature death”, said one of the authors of the study, Dr. Donghao Lu, in a press release. But this is the first time that work has focused on the link between perinatal depression and cardiovascular health.
Women affected by perinatal depression have a 36% increased risk of cardiovascular disease
For the purposes of the study, the scientists compared the follow-ups until 2020 of more than 50,000 Swedish women who had been diagnosed with perinatal depression between 2001 and 2014 and another group of more than 500,000 women who gave birth during the same period. but who had not been diagnosed with perinatal depression.
The researchers noted that among women who suffered from perinatal depression, 6.4% developed cardiovascular disease, compared to 3.7% of women without this disorder. They concluded that women who were diagnosed with perinatal depression had a 36% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. They were approximately 50% more at risk high blood pressure37% more at risk of ischemic heart disease and 36% more at risk heart failure.
Cardiovascular risk: results which should encourage protection of the mental health of pregnant women
“Our findings may help identify people who are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, so that steps can be taken to reduce this risk.”, said Dr Emma Bränn, another author of this work. But, according to scientists, these observations also show the importance of taking into account the mental health of pregnant women. Indeed, Emma Bränn concludes that these “results are yet another reason to ensure that maternal care is holistic, paying equal attention to physical health and mental health”.
Sources :
- Perinatal depression and risk of maternal cardiovascular disease: a Swedish nationwide study – European Heart Journal – 18 juin 2024
- Women who experience depression during pregnancy or after birth have higher risk of cardiovascular disease – European Society of Cardiology – 19 juin 2024
- What is perinatal depression? – Geneva University Hospitals
