Investigation of the Association of Depression and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Retired Professional Football Players

• DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000563499.92449.e4
• Publication Date: 2019-06-25T21:49:31Z
• Authors: Eric Kessler; Jocelyn N. Simons; Genevieve E. Smith; Mark M. Cassidy; Gregory W. Stewart
• Keywords: Depression; Circumference

Former professional football players have considerable cardiovascular disease risk. Studies shown that psychosocial factors and depression are also strongly associated with CVD morbidity mortality. PURPOSE: To better understand the association of such as in a population retired NFL players. METHODS: Blood pressure, anthropometry, laboratory blood analyses were collected from former athletes (n = 648) between October 2016 February 2018 during screenings held throughout U.S. Questionnaires used to collect demographic information, exercise frequency Patient Health Questionnaire 2 (PHQ-2) scores. Means analyzed via one-way ANOVA associations variables assessed using GLM. Chi-square analysis or t-test was assess differences categorical variables, appropriate. RESULTS: Variables race (p=0.0007), log systolic pressure (SBP) (β -0.5258, p 0.0404), waist circumference -16.9366, 0.0218), hip 17.2927, 0.0196) ratio 8.2430, 0.0171) significantly positive screen for on PHQ-2. (p 0.0002), SBP -3.3818, 0.0009), diastolic (DBP) 0.0168, 0.0035), -46.3330, 0.0100), 46.5107, 22.3890, 0.0078) higher score little interest doing things question 0.0048), -2.2832, 0.0122), DBP 0.0141, 0.0059) feeling depressed There significant prevalence racial groups PHQ-2 (p=0.0006). CONCLUSIONS: Factors reflecting body composition found be depressive symptoms. Measures abdominal obesity may indicator athletes. Accounting clinical practice help improve overall health outcomes.