Depression and cardiovascular disease events among patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis with bias analysis

Aims: To provide updated systematic and quantitative summary of the association between depression and the risk of CVD events among individuals with type 2 diabetes. We also aimed to examine the sensitivity of the association to uncontrolled confounding.

Methods: Data sources included Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo through September 2019. Two independent reviewers selected cohort studies that evaluated the association between depression and fatal or non-fatal CVD events among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Bias analysis was performed using the bias formula approach.

Results: Of 2527 citations screened, 17 eligible studies with a total of 1,033,131 participants were identified. Based on random-effects meta-analysis, depression was associated with higher risks of non-fatal CVD events (relative risk 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20 to 1.53) and fatal CVD event (relative risk 1.47, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.77). Bias analysis indicated that unmeasured confounders alone may not explain the observed association between depression and CVD events among individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions: Depression was associated with a higher risk of non-fatal and fatal CVD events among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Our findings provide updated and robust evidence about the association between depression and CVD events among individuals with type 2 diabetes.