Mental health ‘crucial’ after first-time hospitalization for heart disease
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Key takeaways:
- Risk for a new psychiatric disorder or suicide attempt increased 83% in the year following first-time CVD hospitalization.
- Risk persisted regardless of an individual’s genetic susceptibility for mental illness.
Risk for psychiatric disorder or suicide attempt is particularly high in the first year following hospitalization for heart disease, and patient support is important to lower such risk, researchers reported.
A large analysis of the U.K. Biobank to understand the prevalence and risk factors for psychiatric disorder or suicide attempt following CVD hospitalization was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“It’s crucial to pay attention to both physical and mental health after a stroke or heart disease diagnosis,” Huan Song, MD, PhD, professor of epidemiology at the West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University in Chengdu, China, said in a press release. “If you or a loved one has been hospitalized for heart disease, be aware that mental health issues may arise during recovery. It’s important to monitor for signs of anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts. These mental health challenges are common and treatable.”
To investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and suicide attempts among individuals hospitalized with CVD, Song and colleagues conducted a matched cohort study of patient data from the U.K. Biobank.
Their analysis included 63,923 patients hospitalized for the first time with CVD between 1997 and 2020 and 127,845 matched individuals without a CVD hospitalization (median age, 63 years; 64% men). Hospitalized patients with any history of psychiatric disorders or prior suicide attempts were excluded from the analysis.
Individuals hospitalized with CVD had higher Townsend deprivation index, BMI and proportion of smoking and family history of psychiatric disorders compared with the matched cohort, as well as lower educational attainment and household income.
The researchers observed an increased risk for anxiety, depression, stress-related disorder, substance misuse, psychotic disorder and suicide behaviors among people hospitalized with CVD compared with the matched cohort, with especially high risk during the first year after diagnosis (adjusted HR = 1.83; 95% CI, 1.58-2.12). After 1 year, risk declined but remained elevated (aHR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.16-1.32).
Risk for any psychiatric disorders and suicide attempt in the first year after diagnosis was elevated across most CVDs and was highest for cerebrovascular disease, followed by HF, arrhythmia/conduction disorders, ischemic heart disease and emboli/thrombosis.
Moreover, the researchers found no significant impact of genetic susceptibility to the studied psychiatric disorders and risk for developing the psychiatric disorder following first-time CVD hospitalization.
“Patients should tell their health care professional about any mental health symptoms,” Song said in the release. “They can provide support, refer you to a mental health specialist or adjust your treatment plan. Reach out to a therapist, counselor or psychiatrist for help if you’re struggling with your mental health or share your feelings with family members, friends or a support group to gain emotional support and help you navigate the challenges you’re facing.”
The phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988 in the U.S. and Canada, and 0800-689-5652 for the National Suicide Prevention Helpline U.K. or 111 for the NHS.
Reference:
- Risks of anxiety, suicide attempt may rise significantly after cardiovascular hospitalization. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/risks-of-anxiety-suicide-attempt-may-rise-significantly-after-cardiovascular-hospitalization. Published July 31, 2024. Accessed July 31, 2024.
Collapse
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts