Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the relationship between imaging changes in cerebral small vessel disease and risk factors for depression.

Method: The meta- analysis method was applied to quantitatively analyze the research results on risk factors of cerebral small vessel disease in patients with depression both domestically and internationally. The Stata15.0 software was used for heterogeneity testing, risk factor forest map analysis, sensitivity analysis, and the calculation of combined odds ratio and 95% confidence interval.

Results: The OR values of the relationship between lacunar infarction, white matter lesions, and depression were 1.46 (1.07-2.00) and 1.27 (1.09-1.48), respectively. The OR value of the relationship between cerebral microbleeds and the onset of depression in patients was 1.49 (1.09-2.03), so it was not yet possible to determine the relationship between cerebral microbleeds and the onset of depression in patients.

Conclusion: Patients with typical cerebral small vessel disease imaging changes combined with lacunar infarction and/or white matter lesions were prone to developing depressive disorders and required timely measures for active intervention.

Anhui Medical University Youth Science Fund Project (2023xkj119); Applied Medicine Project of Hefei Municipal Health Commission in 2023 (Hwk2023yb009); Special Research Fund for Young Science and Technology Talents Training of Anhui Medical University (2023cy015); Youth Science Fund Project of Anhui Medical University (2021xkj064); Hefei Third People's Hospital Institute level Scientific Research Project (SYKZ202301) .