Adults with mental disorders are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, study finds

The study published on Monday (8) in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology analyzed the health data of more than 6.5 million people through the database of the National Health Insurance Service of Korea.

People included in the new study were aged between 20 and 39 years old and underwent health screenings between 2009 and 2012. Participants’ health was monitored until December 2018 for new heart attacks and strokes.

About 13% of the participants had some type of mental disorder – which included insomnia, anxiety, depression, somatoform disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or personality disorder, according to according to the study.

People under 40 with a mental disorder were 58% more likely to have a heart attack and 42% more likely to have a stroke than those without the disorder, the study found.

“We’ve known for some time that mental health and physical health are linked, but what I find surprising about these findings is that these links were observable at such a young age,” said Katherine Ehrlich, associate professor of behavioral and brain sciences. from the University of Georgia. Ehrlich was not involved in the research.

“Coronary artery disease and heart attacks are rare before age 40, so a study as large as this one is needed to see the relationship between mental health and such an unusual occurrence in young people,” she said.

Mental health and lifestyle

Ehrlich said he would like to know more about the physical activity and diets of those involved to better understand whether these factors influence the link between mental health problems and heart attacks and strokes.

“For example, if you’re chronically depressed, you may struggle to maintain a healthy diet and get adequate physical activity, which can, in turn, increase your risk of cardiac events over time,” she said.

But the increased risk cannot be attributed to lifestyle differences alone, as the authors controlled for factors such as age, gender, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, and income. , the study said.

That doesn’t mean the lifestyle should be ignored, however, said study author Eue-Keun Choi, a professor of internal medicine at the Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea.

“While lifestyle behaviors do not explain excess cardiovascular risk, this does not mean that healthier habits do not improve prognosis,” Choi said in a statement. “Lifestyle modification should therefore be recommended for young adults with mental disorders to improve heart health.”

Changes and checks

One in eight people between the ages of 20 and 39 studied had some form of mental illness, meaning a substantial number of people could be predisposed to heart attacks and strokes, said study author Chan Soon Park, a researcher at University Hospital. Seoul National University, South Korea, in a statement.

This may point to a greater need for managing psychological conditions and monitoring heart health in those at risk, Park added.

“If we can reduce the number of people living with chronic mental illness, we could see secondary benefits in the coming years in relation to the number of people with heart conditions,” said Ehrlich.

It’s important to note that the results don’t show that mental illness causes heart attacks or strokes, she added. But research indicates a risk factor to watch out for.

There may be benefit in preventative measures to minimize risks, Ehrlich said, which can include maintaining a healthy diet and incorporating physical activity.

Choi recommends that people with mental health issues also get regular checkups.

These findings may also underscore the importance of addressing loneliness, she added.

“Many individuals with mental illness suffer from social isolation and loneliness, and researchers have warned for years that loneliness is detrimental to physical health,” said Ehrlich.

“Efforts to improve social connection among young people could be critical in addressing rising rates of cardiometabolic conditions in adulthood,” she added.