Key result
Psychological disorders, especially anxiety and depression, are linked to increased arterial stiffness across studies.
Why the study?
Psychological disorders are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, and arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A comprehensive understanding of the association between mental health disorders and arterial stiffness is critical to refine prevention and treatment strategies.
This review summarizes evidence indicating that most studies point toward a significant link between psychological disorders (particularly anxiety and depression) and arterial stiffness, which may inform novel preventive and therapeutic cardiovascular strategies for patients with mental health disorders.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support mental health evaluation in vascular risk assessment; leaves open causal direction and intervention effects.
Psychological disorders are highly prevalent in the general population and are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Vascular aging is associated with changes in the mechanical and structural properties of the vascular wall, leading to the loss of arterial elasticity and reduced arterial compliance. Arterial stiffness (AS) is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population and in high-risk patients, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. A comprehensive understanding of the association between mental health disorders and AS is critical to refine prevention and treatment strategies. The present review article aims to summarize studies examining the association between psychological factors and AS. Most relevant studies have focused on the association of anxiety and depression with AS, with fewer studies analyzing the impact of other, less common mental health disorders on AS. Although not all of them align, most studies point towards a significant link between psychological disorders and AS. While the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are still not fully understood, the clinical implications of the observed association might pave the way for the development of novel preventive and therapeutic policies for patients with mental health disorders.
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Μακρή et al. (2026) conducted a review in Psychological disorders and vascular aging (arterial stiffness). Psychological disorders (anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders) was evaluated on Arterial stiffness. Psychological disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, are significantly associated with increased arterial stiffness across most reviewed studies.
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