From the Journals

Depression risks identified in women


 

FROM OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

The risk of major depression was significantly higher in women of reproductive age if they had some type of government insurance or hypertension or if they smoked, according to an analysis of 3,705 nonpregnant women aged 20-44 years.

The same group of women was significantly more likely to have minor depression, compared with those who were not depressed, if they had less than a high school education or asthma or if they smoked, reported Nan Guo, PhD, and her associates at Stanford (Calif.) University.

The adjusted relative risk for major depression was a significant 2.49 for women if they had government, state, or military insurance, compared with the reference group – those who had private insurance. Women with no insurance had an adjusted RR of 1.84, which did not reach statistical significance, they said.

Adjusted relative risk ratios for depression in women by subgroup
The risk of major depression was also significantly higher for women with hypertension (RR, 2.09 vs. no hypertension) and for those who were current smokers (RR, 2.02), compared with never smokers. Former smokers had an RR of 0.86 vs. never smokers, but the difference was not significant, Dr. Guo and her associates said.

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