Alcohol Consumption and Smoking Increased Risk of Developing Depressive Disorder beyond Gender Effect among Cardio Vascular Diseases Risk Factors

This study, based on South Korea's National Health Insurance Service data, aimed to determine which cardiovascular diseases risk factors increased the risk of developing depressive disorder in women compared to men, synergistically with the gender effect. After adjustments, women had a 1.58 times higher risk of depressive disorder than men, with particularly elevated risks in smoking (1.98 times) and heavy alcohol consumption (1.93 times) groups. Women with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia also exhibited higher risks. Notably, women aged 45–49 faced the highest risk. Smoking and heavy alcohol use synergistically heightened risks in women, while certain cardiovascular diseases-related conditions reduced gender differences. Menopause posed the highest risk for depressive disorder in women, and depressive disorder prevalence increased with age in both genders.