Depression and anxiety common in people with heart disease

This multi-part NIHR study found that depression and anxiety were more common in people with coronary heart disease, than the general population. Anxiety increased people's risk of a future heart attack. The people included in the study were generally older, white males, so the findings may not apply to everyone. Patients considered a nurse-led intervention to personalise care was acceptable. The intervention included optimising medicines and facilitating referrals for psychological support. When asked, people with depression and coronary heart disease generally favoured non-medical treatments. These findings provide an insight into the scale of depression and anxiety amongst people with coronary heart disease. Overall costs of NHS care were increased in people with coronary heart disease and depression, compare with those who were not depressed. This was mainly due to coronary heart disease related inpatient care. The link between mental and physical health indicates the necessity of addressing both. The insights into why people feel depressed provide a framework for starting conversations with potentially depressed people.
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news