Factors influencing the association between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular disease in US population

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression are common diseases that lead to adverse health outcomes. Depressive Symptoms may be a risk factor for CVD. But few studies focused on the impact of socioeconomic factors, common medical history and dietary intake about this association. This study analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2016. Complex sampling-weighted logistic regression models were used to compare the odds ratios (ORs) of CVD in participants with different depressive symptoms. 11,516 NHANES participants aged ≥ 40 years were included in the final analysis, of whom 1842 had CVD. Compared with participants with no/minimal depression, participants with mild, moderate, and moderately severe/severe depression had OR values of 1.25 (95%  CI 1.01–1.54), 1.98 (95% CI 1.32–2.96), and 2.41 (95% CI 1.63–3.57). The association of depressive symptoms with CVD follow a dose-dependent pattern. The interactions of depressive symptoms with gender (Interaction P = 0.009), diabetes (Interaction P = 0.010), household income level (Interaction P = 0.002), dietary cholesterol intake (Interaction P = 0.017) on CVD were observed. More severe depressive symptoms are associated with increased risk of CVD in US population. The association may be more pronounced in the female population, population with diabetes, low family income level, or high dietary cholesterol intake.