Do participants with depression receive more counseling on cardiovascular disease risk factors? The results of the WOBASZ II study

BACKGROUND Depression was found to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In terms of CVD prevention in people with depressive symptoms, the main goal is to successfully control classic CVD risk factors. AIMS The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between depression and 1) the frequency of healthcare utilization, 2) counseling on main CVD riskfactors during usual medical visits, 3) compliance with pharmacotherapy in primary and secondary prevention. METHODS WOBASZ II was a cross-sectional study targeting a representative sample of the Polish population. Trained nurses obtained information on depression (using the Beck Depression Inventory), education, healthcare utilization, counseling on CVD risk factors, and compliance with the recommended pharmacotherapy. RESULTS As many as 5531 participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire and provided information on CVD. After adjustment for age, sex, and education, participants without CVD but with depression had blood pressure measured slightly more often and received more frequent counseling on: nutrition (40% more), physical activity (43% more), and smoking cessation (nearly 30% more). Counseling on main CVD risk factors during typical visits and compliance with the recommended pharmacotherapy did not differ with regards to depression in patients with a history of CVD. CONCLUSIONS The recommendations from the European Society of Cardiology for particularly careful control of CVD risk factors in people with depression are to some extent reflected in primary prevention. The relationship between depression and counseling on CVD risk factors in patients with CVD was insignificant. Compliance with the recommended pharmacotherapy was not related to depression.