Reduced variability in pulse wave velocity in depressed patients with suicidal ideation

Recently arterial stiffness was found to be associated with depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with or without suicidal ideation. Twenty unmedicated MDD patients with a history of suicidal ideations (Age: 32.37±9.53 years) and 20 unmedicated MDD patients without any history of suicidal ideations (Age: 36.84±8.66) were recruited for this study at a psychiatric clinic in the UAE. Depression severity was assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was estimated from the ratio of half of the height and Pulse Transit Time which is defined as the time delay between the R-wave of the ECG and the arrival of the pulse wave in the index finger respectively. MDD Patients with suicidal ideation were found to have reduced low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) power of PWV compared to MDD patients without suicidal ideations. Suicidal score was negatively correlated (r=-0.54;p<0.05) with LF power and positively (r=0.54; p<0.01) with HF power. No difference in the average PWV was found between the two groups of participants. Reduced variability in pulse wave velocity in MDD patients with suicidal ideation may lead to arterial stiffness and higher risk of future cardiovascular disease.