Associations between anxious-depressed symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in a longitudinal childhood study

Authors

Sandra Louise, University of Western AustraliaFollow
Nicole Warrington, University of Western AustraliaFollow
Pamela McCuskie, University of Western AustraliaFollow
Wendy Oddy, University of Western AustraliaFollow
Stephen Zubrick, University of Western AustraliaFollow
Beth P. Hands, University of Notre Dame AustraliaFollow
Trevor Mori, University of Western AustraliaFollow
Laurent Briollais, University of TorontoFollow
Sven Silburn, University of Western AustraliaFollow
Lyle Palmer, University of TorontoFollow
Eugene Mattes, University of Western AustraliaFollow
Lawrence Beilin, University of Western AustraliaFollow

Publication Details

Louise, S., Warrington, N., McCuskie, P., Oddy, W., Zubrick, S., Hands, B. P., Mori, T., Briollais, L., Silburn, S., Palmer, L., Mattes, E., & Beilin, L. (2012). Associations between anxious-depressed symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in a longitudinal childhood study. Preventive Medicine, 54 (5), 345–350.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.03.004

Abstract

Objective.To examine the influence of anxious/depressed scores on cardiovascular risk factors throughout childhood.

Methods. Data from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study, a study of 2900 pregnancies recruited between 1989 and 1991, were used. Anxious-depressed scores (derived from the Childhood Behavior Checklist), body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure were measured at 5 (n=1681), 8 (n=1697), 10 (n=1575) and 14 (n=1386) years. At age 14 depressive symptom scores (Beck Depression Inventory for Youth), anxious-depressed scores (Youth Self-Report (YSR) and Teacher Report Form (TRF)) and fasting lipid, glucose and insulin were also available. Cross sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted.

Results.At age 14, girls with higher anxious-depressed scores had higher BMI (p≤0.005) and homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (p
≤0.0001). This equated to a difference of 0.6 kg/m2 and 0.3units in predicted BMI and HOMA-IR respectively (top 5% vs. score of zero). Boys with higher anxiousdepressed scores had lower systolic blood pressure trajectories (p=0.024).

Conclusion.Depressive scores appear to have differing influences on BMI, homeostasis model assessmentestimated insulin resistance and systolic blood pressure in boys and girls. Paradoxically boys with higher anxious-depressed scores had lower blood pressure throughout childhood.

Keywords

Peer-reviewed, Lifestyle, depression, cardiovascular disease, risk factors, child, Raine study