Key result
COVID-19 quarantine emotional burdens may increase CVD risk and exacerbate mental health disorders.
Why the study?
Heart-brain interactions are complex and bidirectional, and the emotional burden of the COVID-19 pandemic may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and mental illness, especially in vulnerable populations.
Psychological stress and quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively impact cardiovascular health, emphasizing the importance of the mind-heart connection and the need for psychological support.
Highlights pandemic-related stress as a potential CVD risk factor; hypothesis-generating and leaves open need for targeted interventions.
From the time of Hippocratic medicine, heart-brain interactions have been recognized and contributed to both mental and physical health. Heart-brain interactions are complex and multifaceted and appear to be bidirectional. Exposure to chronic and daily stressors such as quarantine, or severe psychological trauma like a significant person in danger of life can affect the cardiovascular system and the emotional experience of the individual, leading to an increased risk of developing a cardiovascular disease or mental illness. Subjects with comorbidities between mental disorders and heart diseases are obviously more susceptible to be influenced by emotional burden due to the spread of COVID-19, with emotional responses characterized by fear, panic, anger, frustration. Psychological services and crisis interventions are needed at an early stage to reduce anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in such a stressful period, with a special attention to special groups of patients, such as women, children, or the elderly.
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Mazza et al. (2021) conducted a review in COVID-19, Cardiovascular Disease, and Mental Illness. COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine was evaluated. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated quarantine measures impose significant emotional burdens that may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and exacerbate mental health disorders.
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