Depression risks identified in women

The risk of major depression was significantly higher in women of reproductive age if they had some type of government insurance or hypertension or if they smoked, according to an analysis of 3,705 nonpregnant women aged 20-44 years.

The same group of women was significantly more likely to have minor depression, compared with those who were not depressed, if they had less than a high school education or asthma or if they smoked, reported Nan Guo, PhD, and her associates at Stanford (Calif.) University.

The adjusted relative risk for major depression was a significant 2.49 for women if they had government, state, or military insurance, compared with the reference group – those who had private insurance. Women with no insurance had an adjusted RR of 1.84, which did not reach statistical significance, they said.