Promising insights from brain perfusion studies in depressed patients with heart failure: Linking the brain with the heart

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases with over 15 million diagnosed cases worldwide [1]. In addition to symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue, cognitive deficits and autonomic abnormalities, one out of five CHF patients suffers from depression, with a prevalence 2- to 3-times higher than in the general population. In CHF patients, depressive symptoms affect treatment adherence, decrease quality of life, increase the use of health care services, lead to more recurrent hospitalizations, cause staggering economic, social and psychological costs, and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates [2].
Source: International Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research