In the United States, someone dies from heart disease every 34 seconds.
Nearly half of the population suffers from some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and about one in four adults experiences a mental health disorder in their lifetime.
This overlap has prompted researchers at Emory University to investigate the connection.
According to a new report in The Lancet Regional Health-Europe, certain mental health conditions significantly increase the risk of developing heart disease by 50–100%. They also worsen outcomes in people who already have heart conditions, raising the risk of poor recovery and death by 60–170%.
The research, led by Dr. Viola Vaccarino at Emory University, shows the following increased risks for developing CVD:
- Major depression – 72%
• PTSD – 57%
• Bipolar disorder – 61%
• Panic disorder – 50%
• Phobic anxiety – 70%
• Schizophrenia – nearly 100%
People with existing heart disease and mental health disorders face worse outcomes. For example, those with major depression are more than twice as likely to die from heart disease.
The relationship goes both ways—over 40% of people with heart disease also have a mental health disorder. Mental illnesses like depression, schizophrenia, and PTSD disrupt how the brain and body respond to stress.
This includes changes in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, both of which influence heart health, inflammation, and metabolism.
Disruptions in these systems can lead to chronic inflammation, high blood pressure, poor metabolism, and other risk factors that increase heart disease risk.
People with mental health conditions often face social and healthcare challenges, such as poor access to care, low health literacy, and stigma. These barriers prevent timely screenings and treatment for both heart and mental conditions.
Mental health is often overlooked in clinical research, too. People with mental disorders are frequently excluded from trials, meaning that heart disease prediction models may not work well for this group.
The researchers call for a new healthcare approach—one that integrates mental and heart health. This means building care teams that include cardiologists, mental health experts, social workers, and nurses working together to treat the whole person.
Addressing the disparities between mental and heart health is essential. Everyone deserves equal opportunities to live a healthy life and participate fully in society.
The study is published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe.
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