Head and heart
For people with depression, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death. Why is this relevant at SickKids? We know that if you develop depression in your youth, you are at increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease up to 10 years earlier than your non-depressed peers. So early intervention is the key.The SickKids Children’s Integrated Mood and Body Program (CLIMB) is all about early intervention. It’s a highly innovative model that integrates clinical care with cutting-edge research. We know depression and cardiovascular disease are linked. The thrust of CLIMB’s research is understanding how, so we can prevent heart disease early.
Since the program launched in June 2016, 98 patients between the ages of 7 and 18 have been assessed. Dr. Daphne Korczak, the SickKids psychiatrist leading the program, aims to enrol a total of 150 patients during the three-year project.
Dr. Daphne Korczak (fifth from right) and members of the Children’s Integrated Mood and Body (CLIMB) team at SickKids.
“Depression and cardiovascular disease are two major contributors to the global burden of disease.”
On the research front, it’s still too early for a formal analysis of the data collected so far. But anecdotally the team has noticed a few patterns: one is the severity of the patients’ depression when they present to the program. The mean depression severity score for the kids in the program is 53 (research suggests that a score greater than 15 may be clinically significant). The team has also noticed that many patients – in particular, female patients – exhibit mood-related binge eating behaviours. This, coupled with cravings for more carbohydrates – and for more processed foods – could put them at greater risk for cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Korczak is hopeful that the team’s research will help their clinicians determine where to focus their treatment efforts. “Depression and cardiovascular disease are two major contributors to the global burden of disease,” she says. “So if we can make any improvement to that risk, that impact is potentially massive.”
One of the key sources of support for SickKids research is legacy giving. Dr. Korczak’s research is just one example of the incredible impact you can be a part of – through a gift in your will.
