Mental health disorders and their impact on cardiovascular health disparities

Summary & key facts

A group of experts looked at research and found that people with common mental health problems often have worse heart health. Conditions like major depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and posttraumatic stress disorder are linked with more heart disease, more disability, and shorter lives. Part of the reason is unfair differences in money, living conditions, and access to good healthcare. The experts say we need more money, better services, joined-up care for body and mind, and more research to fix these gaps.

Key facts:

• Experts reviewed current knowledge about heart disease in people with common mental health conditions such as major depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
• People with these mental health disorders tend to have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, more illness and disability, and a shorter life expectancy than people without these disorders.
• Part of the higher heart disease risk is linked to inequalities in social conditions, access to healthcare, and the quality of care people receive.
• The authors call for urgent increases in investment, targeted interventions, and more research to reduce heart disease in people with mental health disorders.
• They recommend clinical care that treats mental and physical health together and that addresses shared risk factors and the complex ways the two types of health affect each other.

Abstract

Mental health disorders are highly prevalent and are associated with significant morbidity, disability, and reduced life expectancy. A key contributor to this disparity is the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is partially driven by inequalities in social determinants of health, healthcare access, and quality of care. To address this challenge, The Lancet Regional Health-Europe convened experts to evaluate the current state of knowledge on inequalities and disparities in cardiovascular health among people with mental health disorders and propose recommendations to address these disparities. This Series paper aims to raise awareness of the disparities in CVD and health-care quality faced by individuals with common mental health conditions such as major depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. There is an urgent need for increased investment, intervention, and research to address the burden of CVD in these populations. Effective management of the comorbidity between mental health disorders and CVD requires an integrated and holistic approach to clinical care that addresses shared risk factors and the complex interactions between physical and mental health.

Topics

Cardiac Health and Mental Health Health, psychology, and well-being Mental Health Treatment and Access

Categories

Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine Health Sciences Medicine

Tags

Cardiovascular health Disease Environmental health Internal medicine Medicine Mental health Psychiatry Psychology

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Depression PTSD Anxiety or worry Lack of energy or motivation Poor sleep Sadness or low mood