June 21, 2012Indian Heart JournalOpen Access

Depression and the heart

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Why the study?

Does depression increase the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in individuals?

Structured PICO

Does depression increase the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in individuals?

Population

Individuals with or without established coronary artery disease (CAD)

Intervention

Depression (as a risk factor)

Comparator

Absence of depression

Outcome

Development of angina, fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction, and cardiac mortality

Depression is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events and mortality, highlighting a 'vicious cycle' between cardiovascular disease and major depression.

Implication

Supports depression screening in CAD; leaves open whether treatment alters cardiac outcomes.

Abstract

Cardio Vascular disease (CVD) as well as depression are both highly prevalent disorders and both of them cause a significant decrease in quality of life and increase the economic burden for the patient. Depressed individuals are more likely to develop angina, fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction, than those who are not depressed. Over the past decade, evidence has accumulated to suggest that depression may be a risk factor for cardiac mortality in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD). The 'vicious cycle' linking CVD to major depression and depression to CVD, deserves greater attention from both cardio-vascular and psychiatric investigators.(1).