Adults in their 20s and 30s with mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and insomnia are up to three times more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, according to a study involving more than 6.5 million individuals.
The researchers also found that lifestyle behaviors did not account for this increased risk. Approximately one in eight participants aged 20 to 39 had some form of mental illness.
Professor Eue-Keun Choi of Seoul National University College of Medicine, who led the study, stated that these findings underscore the importance of regular health check-ups and, if needed, medication for young adults with psychological problems to help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Study Details and Findings
This research aimed to examine the relationship between mental disorders in adults aged 20–39 years and the risks of developing myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke.
It utilized data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database, which covers the country’s entire population.
Over 6.5 million individuals, who had no history of heart attacks or strokes and underwent health examinations between 2009 and 2012, were included.
The study revealed that 13.1% of participants had at least one mental disorder. Anxiety was the most common condition, followed by depression and insomnia.
The participants were then followed up until December 2018 to record new cases of heart attack and stroke.
The findings showed that participants with any mental disorder had a 58% higher chance of heart attack and 42% increased risk of stroke compared to those without a mental disorder.
The risk of heart attack was elevated across all mental disorders studied, with the risk being highest in those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Implications of the Study
These findings highlight the need to address mental health in young adults to boost cardiovascular health.
Depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and personality disorder were particularly linked with higher risks of heart attack in participants in their 20s compared to those in their 30s.
Furthermore, depression and insomnia were associated with greater risks of heart attack and stroke in women compared to men.
Dr. Chan Soon Park of Seoul National University Hospital, another author of the study, emphasized the need for future research to understand the benefits of managing psychological problems and monitoring heart health in this vulnerable group.
He noted that patients with mental health problems typically have a shorter life expectancy due to physical illnesses, and this study shows that a significant number of young adults with at least one mental health problem may be predisposed to heart attack and stroke.
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The study was published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
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