Original Research Prim Care Companion CNS Disord March 2026

Depression and Cardiovascular Burden in Aging Populations: Insights From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2020 on Symptom Frequency, Sociodemographic Disparities, and Modifiable Risk Factors

PCC CNS Disord 2026;28(2):10.4088/PCC.25m04116

Full Article Read the complete peer-reviewed article in Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. Clinical Summary Older adults with cardiovascular disease often present with overlapping somatic and mood symptoms, making depression easy to miss in routine care. This study shows that even brief, frequency-based depressive symptom reporting tracks with higher cardiovascular burden, especially when obesity or smoking are also present. FAQ Does how often an older adult feels depressed affect cardiovascular risk?

Key Takeaways In adults aged ≥50 years, overall CVD prevalence was 8.5%, but patients reporting depressive symptoms had higher subtype prevalence than those without symptoms: CHD (10.8% vs 8.4%), angina (14.6% vs 11.7%), MI (15.4% vs 12.3%), and CHF (12.5% vs 9.1%) (all P <.001). Clinical Guide How should clinicians use depressive symptom frequency to stratify cardiovascular risk in adults aged 50 years and older? Clinical Guide How should clinicians prioritize cardiometabolic assessment when older adults report depressive symptoms plus obesity or current smoking?