Heart failure victims require depression counselling
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People with heart failure must be screened for signs of depression and offered counselling, scientists say.
A small study presented at the European Society of Cardiology suggested patients with depression were more likely to die within a year.
Though many factors are likely to influence this - including the severity of the disease - researchers say managing depression is important.
And charities advise people to seek help through specialist nurses and GPs.
Prof John Cleland, chief investigator in the study, who works at both Imperial College London and the University of Hull, describes heart failure as a "modern epidemic" that affects 900,000 people across the UK.
But despite trying to find better drugs and improved procedures there is no cure, Prof Cleland told the BBC: "Being heart specialists we have focused on trying to find medicines, devices, and operations."
A small study presented at the European Society of Cardiology suggested patients with depression were more likely to die within a year.
Though many factors are likely to influence this - including the severity of the disease - researchers say managing depression is important.
And charities advise people to seek help through specialist nurses and GPs.
Prof John Cleland, chief investigator in the study, who works at both Imperial College London and the University of Hull, describes heart failure as a "modern epidemic" that affects 900,000 people across the UK.
But despite trying to find better drugs and improved procedures there is no cure, Prof Cleland told the BBC: "Being heart specialists we have focused on trying to find medicines, devices, and operations."
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