A Broken Heart - Depression Raises Risk of Heart Failure
It may be possible to die of a broken heart, after all, according to a new study.
The Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study explored the relationship between heart disease and depression.
While other studies have examined a correlation between the two in the past, this study is the first to specifically look at whether depression can actually bring about cardiac failure in patients already diagnosed with heart disease.
While depression has been considered a risk factor for patients with heart disease, this study clearly links depression to actual heart failure.
To reach their conclusions, researchers closely examined the records of over 13,000 patients, all of which had no history of depression or heart failure before being diagnosed with coronary artery disease.
Following this group of subjects, researches then monitored their subsequent diagnoses and health in order to see how patients progressed after learning they had heart disease.
Of the initial group of patients, 1,377 were later found to have depression and 674 suffered from heart failure.
By analyzing the characteristics of those who experienced this condition, the researchers discovered that the rate of heart failure among patients without a diagnosis of depression was around 3.
6 percent.
For those who were diagnosed with depression, the rate jumped to 16.
4 percent.
This dramatic increase strongly suggests that depression in patients with coronary artery disease can be a strong factor in leading to cardiac conditions.
These findings reinforce the need for continual improvement in the treatment of both diseases and that new interventions for patients suffering from both conditions must be considered.
The study also found that while treatment for depression with antidepressants may help the symptoms of depression, they seemed to make no impact on the likelihood of suffering from heart conditions.
Future studies may need to examine the use of antidepressants in these situations even further to better understand their possible role.
While a broken heart alone may not kill, clearly it can be a contributing factor.
Finding a cure and better preventative measures for both diseases will not only save lives, but can help reduce the medical burden on the entire country.
The Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study explored the relationship between heart disease and depression.
While other studies have examined a correlation between the two in the past, this study is the first to specifically look at whether depression can actually bring about cardiac failure in patients already diagnosed with heart disease.
While depression has been considered a risk factor for patients with heart disease, this study clearly links depression to actual heart failure.
To reach their conclusions, researchers closely examined the records of over 13,000 patients, all of which had no history of depression or heart failure before being diagnosed with coronary artery disease.
Following this group of subjects, researches then monitored their subsequent diagnoses and health in order to see how patients progressed after learning they had heart disease.
Of the initial group of patients, 1,377 were later found to have depression and 674 suffered from heart failure.
By analyzing the characteristics of those who experienced this condition, the researchers discovered that the rate of heart failure among patients without a diagnosis of depression was around 3.
6 percent.
For those who were diagnosed with depression, the rate jumped to 16.
4 percent.
This dramatic increase strongly suggests that depression in patients with coronary artery disease can be a strong factor in leading to cardiac conditions.
These findings reinforce the need for continual improvement in the treatment of both diseases and that new interventions for patients suffering from both conditions must be considered.
The study also found that while treatment for depression with antidepressants may help the symptoms of depression, they seemed to make no impact on the likelihood of suffering from heart conditions.
Future studies may need to examine the use of antidepressants in these situations even further to better understand their possible role.
While a broken heart alone may not kill, clearly it can be a contributing factor.
Finding a cure and better preventative measures for both diseases will not only save lives, but can help reduce the medical burden on the entire country.
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