Gender pain gap: Women with depression face 64% higher heart disease risk than ... trends now
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Women diagnosed with depression have a higher risk of heart disease and strokes than men who have also been diagnosed with the mental health disorder.
Researchers analyzed the health data of 4.1million people to find the association between depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart attacks, strokes and angina - chest pain or pressure that occurs when the heart muscle doesn't get enough blood or oxygen.
While both men and women with depression had an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), women showed a greater risk - 64 percent compared to men's 39 percent.
Women are also more prone to angina, stroke and other heart problems, according to researchers at the University of Tokyo.
Approximately 44 percent of women are living with some kind of heart disease (stock photo)
Dr Hidehiro Kaneko, co-author, said this discovery could may help in the development of targeted prevention and treatment strategies that address the specific CVD risks face by depressed patients, including screening for, preventing and treating the mental health condition.
He said: 'A better understanding will allow healthcare providers to optimize care for both men and women with depression, leading to improved CVD outcomes for these populations.'
The authors suggested women may experience more severe and persistent symptoms of depression compared to men, which could contribute to their poorer heart
