Treating anxiety and depression in individuals with heart disease significantly decreases their need for emergency room visits and rehospitalizations, and it may also reduce mortality rates.
This impactful discovery was made by researchers, including lead author Philip Binkley, M.D., M.P.H., from The Ohio State University, and shared in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
The study centered on patients who had been hospitalized for coronary artery disease or heart failure and were also diagnosed with anxiety or depression.
It found that interventions such as psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy (medication), or a combination of both could lead to a dramatic reduction in hospital and emergency department visits—by as much as 75%—and, in some instances, even decreased the risk of death.
Anxiety and depression are notably prevalent among patients with heart failure, affecting not only their mental health but also their physical health, increasing their risk of additional health complications and even death.
Binkley’s research team analyzed the effects of mental health treatment—either through medication, talk therapy, or both—on the healthcare usage and mortality of people with heart disease coupled with anxiety or depression.
The findings are compelling:
- Patients receiving both medication and talk therapy experienced a 68% to 75% lower risk of hospitalization, a 67% to 74% reduction in emergency department visits, and a 65% to 67% decreased risk of death from any cause.
- Those undergoing psychotherapy alone saw a 46% to 49% drop in the risk for hospital readmission and a 48% to 53% decrease in emergency room visits.
- Medication alone was linked to a 47% to 58% reduction in hospital readmissions and a 41% to 49% decrease in ER visits.
This research underscores the intertwined nature of heart disease and mental health, with both conditions potentially exacerbating each other.
Both are associated with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which can elevate heart rate and blood pressure, contributing to the development of anxiety and depression.
The study observed 1,563 adults, aged 22 to 64, over a three-year period, who had been admitted to the hospital for heart disease and had documented cases of anxiety or depression.
The majority of these participants were women (68%) and white (81%), all enrolled in Ohio’s Medicaid program.
While the study’s results are promising, it’s important to note that the research was limited to Medicaid enrollees in Ohio, making it less applicable to individuals with commercial health insurance or those from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Binkley hopes that these findings will encourage healthcare professionals to routinely screen for anxiety and depression among heart disease patients and adopt collaborative care models that address both cardiovascular and mental health.
This approach could not only save lives but also improve the quality of life for millions suffering from these interconnected conditions.Top of FormBottom of Form
If you care about depression, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and extra-virgin olive oil could reduce depression symptoms.
The research findings can be found in Journal of the American Heart Association.
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