New research suggests that teens with major depression or bipolar disorder are more likely to develop heart disease.

An American Heart Association review found that adolescents with mood disorders should receive early monitoring for heart and blood vessel disease. They suggest that mood disorders like major depression and bipolar disorder should be considered as independent, moderate risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, CTV News reported.

Major depression and bipolar disorder are common mood disorders, affecting about 10 percent of U.S. adolescents. Worldwide, major depression is the main cause of disability among teens, while bipolar disorder is the fourth-leading cause.

"Youth with mood disorders are not yet widely recognized as a group at increased risk for excessive and early heart disease. We hope these guidelines will spur action from patients, families and healthcare providers to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease among these youth," Benjamin I. Goldstein, lead author of the statement and a child-adolescent psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the University of Toronto, said in a statement.

For the review, researchers examined existing studies on mood disorders, Forbes reported. After systematically analyzing published research, they found that teens with major depression or bipolar disorder are more likely than other teens to have several cardiovascular disease risk factors including, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

"Mood disorders are often lifelong conditions, and managing cardiovascular risk early and assertively is tremendously important if we are to be successful in ensuring that the next generation of youth has better cardiovascular outcomes," Goldstein said. "These disorders indicate an increased risk of heart disease that requires increased vigilance and action at the earliest possible stage."

The findings are detailed in the Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association.