The relationship between depression levels and the 10-year cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risk estimated by the SCORE2 cardiovascular risk assessment system in adult patients attending a family medicine outpatient clinic

Aim: Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death threatening the health of the adult population worldwide. Early identification of risk factors plays a critical role in the prevention of these conditions. In recent years, the impact of psychological states—particularly depression—on the cardiovascular system has gained increasing attention. Studies conducted in this context have demonstrated that depression may influence cardiovascular risk both directly and indirectly. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between depression levels and cardiovascular risk, thereby contributing to the development of more comprehensive assessment models in primary healthcare settings that integrate both mental and physical health.. Materials and Methods: This study is a descriptive, cross-sectional, and analytical research conducted between December 1, 2024, and March 1, 2025, among patients who presented to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of Uşak Training and Research Hospital. The study included patients aged between 40 and 69 years who had fasting blood glucose and lipid profile measurements within the past year and who voluntarily agreed to participate. Individuals with known diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, diagnosed cardiovascular disease, postpartum or pregnant women, and those using antipsychotic medications were excluded from the study. Sociodemographic characteristics and medical history of the participants were collected through a structured questionnaire. The Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation-2 (SCORE2) model was used to assess cardiovascular risk, while the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was employed to evaluate depression levels. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS version 27 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: A total of 282 patients participated in the study, with a mean age of 50.8±7.88 years; 60.3% (n=170) were female and 39.7% (n=112) were male. Among the participants, 41.5% (n=117) had no signs of depression. Mild depression was observed in 32.3% (n=91), moderate depression in 18.4% (n=52), and severe depression in 7.8% (n=22). Based on the 10-year cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risk calculated using the SCORE2 risk assessment system, 57.8% (n=163) of the participants were classified as having low-to-moderate risk, 31.9% (n=90) as high risk, and 10.3% (n=29) as very high risk. A low-level, positive, and statistically significant correlation was found between Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores and SCORE2 scores (r=0.141, p=0.018). No significant difference in SCORE2 scores was observed between participants with depressive symptoms and those without (p>0.05). However, participants with moderate to severe levels of depression had significantly higher SCORE2 scores compared to those with mild depression (p=0.002). Conclusions: A relationship was found between the level of depression and cardiovascular disease risk; however, this association was of low magnitude. Both depression and cardiovascular disease risk are influenced by various interconnected parameters. This complexity makes it more challenging to fully understand the nature of the relationship between these two variables. It is suggested that the link between depression and cardiovascular diseases may be more intricate than previously assumed. Key words: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Cardiovascular Risk, Depression, SCORE2