People in 20s and 30s with mental health problems have elevated risks of heart attack and stroke: Study

Participants with any mental disorder had a 58% higher likelihood of myocardial infarction and 42% greater risk of stroke compared to those with no mental disorder. 3The risk of myocardial infarction was elevated for all mental disorders studied, with the magnitude ranging from 1.49- to 3.13-fold. Looking at each condition separately, compared to participants with no mental disorder, the risk of myocardial infarction was

• 3.13 times higher in those with PTSD,
• 2.61 times higher for schizophrenia,
• 2.47 times higher for substance use disorder,
• 2.40 times higher for bipolar disorder,
• 2.29 times higher for personality disorder,
• 1.97 times higher for eating disorders,
• 1.73 times higher for insomnia,
• 1.72 times higher for depression,
• 1.53 times higher for anxiety and
• 1.49 times higher for somatoform disorder.

The risk of stroke was elevated for all mental health issues except PTSD and eating disorders. In addition, depression and insomnia were linked with greater risks of heart attack and stroke in women than men.

Reference:

Professor Eue-Keun Choi et al,European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, DOI 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad102