scholarly journals From Heartbreak to Heart Disease: A Narrative Review on Depression as an Adjunct to Cardiovascular Disease

Pulse ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Jahanzeb Malik ◽  
Hamid Sharif Khan ◽  
Faizan Younus ◽  
Muhammad Shoaib

Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) commonly have subclinical depression and are often delayed in their diagnosis. Literature suggests an increased association of depression and adverse cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction and heart failure. Prevalence of depression in developed countries is approximately 16.6%, and it confers higher cardiovascular mortality even after attrition bias and confounding factors are eliminated. Pharmacological and cognitive-behavioral therapy have been extensively studied, and are generally safe and effective in alleviating depressive symptoms in patients with CVD. However, their impact on cardiovascular outcomes is still unclear. Results of randomized controlled trials have shown antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, to be safe and effective for healing a “broken heart.” This review outlines the prevalence of depression in patients with CVD, the pathophysiological mechanism causing cardiovascular events with depression, and a link between depression and CVD. There is a wealth of literature explaining the precursor of CVD in depression, and like all chronic diseases, inflammation seems to be the culprit in this case as well.

10.2196/14648 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. e14648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Johansson ◽  
Mats Westas ◽  
Gerhard Andersson ◽  
Urban Alehagen ◽  
Anders Broström ◽  
...  

Background Depression is a common cause of reduced well-being and prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is a lack of effective intervention strategies targeting depression. Objective The study aimed to evaluate the effects of a nurse-delivered and adapted internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program aimed at reducing depression in patients with CVD. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 144 patients with CVD with at least mild depression (Patient Health Questionnaire–9 [PHQ-9] score ≥5) were randomized 1:1 to a 9-week program of iCBT (n=72) or an active control participating in a Web-based discussion forum (online discussion forum [ODF], n=72). The iCBT program, which included 7 modules, was adapted to fit patients with CVD. Nurses with an experience of CVD care provided feedback and a short introduction to cognitive behavioral therapy. The primary outcome, depression, was measured using PHQ-9. Secondary outcomes were depression measured using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale–self-rating version (MADRS-S), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured using Short Form 12 (SF-12) survey and EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), and the level of adherence. An intention-to-treat analysis with multiple imputations was used. Between-group differences in the primary and secondary outcomes were determined by the analysis of covariance, and a sensitivity analysis was performed using mixed models. Results Compared with ODF, iCBT had a significant and moderate treatment effect on the primary outcome depression (ie, PHQ-9; mean group difference=−2.34 [95% CI −3.58 to −1.10], P<.001, Cohen d=0.62). In the secondary outcomes, compared with ODF, iCBT had a significant and large effect on depression (ie, MADRS-S; P<.001, Cohen d=0.86) and a significant and moderate effect on the mental component scale of the SF-12 (P<.001, Cohen d=0.66) and the EQ-VAS (P<.001, Cohen d=0.62). Overall, 60% (n=43) of the iCBT group completed all 7 modules, whereas 82% (n=59) completed at least half of the modules. No patients were discontinued from the study owing to a high risk of suicide or deterioration in depression. Conclusions Nurse-delivered iCBT can reduce depression and improve HRQoL in patients with CVD, enabling treatment for depression in their own homes and at their preferred time. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02778074; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02778074


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tung Hoang ◽  
Jeongseon Kim

Statins and omega-3 supplementation have been recommended for cardiovascular disease prevention, but comparative effects have not been investigated. This study aimed to summarize current evidence of the effect of statins and omega-3 supplementation on cardiovascular events. A meta-analysis and a network meta-analysis of 63 randomized controlled trials were used to calculate pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the effects of specific statins and omega-3 supplementation compared with controls. Overall, the statin group showed significant risk reductions in total cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke; however, omega-3 supplementation significantly decreased the risks of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction only, in the comparison with the control group. In comparison with omega-3 supplementation, pravastatin significantly reduced the risks of total cardiovascular disease (RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.72–0.91), coronary heart disease (RR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60–0.94), and myocardial infarction (RR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.55–0.94). Risks of total cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke in the atorvastatin group were statistically lower than those in the omega-3 group, with RRs (95% CIs) of 0.80 (0.73–0.88), 0.64 (0.50–0.82), 0.75 (0.60–0.93), and 0.81 (0.66–0.99), respectively. The findings of this study suggest that pravastatin and atorvastatin may be more beneficial than omega-3 supplementation in reducing the risk of total cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Liu ◽  
J Li ◽  
X H Huang

Abstract Background Patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are at high risk for recurrent major cardiovascular events. Effective public health strategies to lower blood pressure (BP) are necessary to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. However, substantial uncertainty remains about the optimal target level to lower BP in patients with cardiovascular disease. Purpose To assess the effects on the incidence of major cardiovascular events in patients with CVD during the scheduled treatment period of greater reduction in blood pressure with a systolic BP (SBP) target <120 mmHg versus <140 mmHg. Methods This study is a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial comparing two strategies for lowering SBP: lowering SBP to the standard target of <140 mmHg; and lowering BP to a more intensive target of <120 mmHg. This study will enroll 12,000 Chinese participants from 100–200 hospitals, follow-up for about 3 years. We will include participants aged ≥50 years old with SBP ≥130 mmHg, having a history of vascular disease (including myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, carotid endarterectomy or carotid stenting, peripheral artery disease with revascularization, abdominal aortic aneurysm ≥5 cm with repair) or stroke. The primary outcome is the first occurrence of major cardiovascular events defined as a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary or non-coronary revascularization events, and cardiovascular death. Secondary outcomes include the components of the primary composite outcome, hospitalized heart failure and all cause of death and non-cardiovascular outcomes (kidney disease and cognitive outcomes). Results Regarding the results, we hypothesize that comparing with SBP target of <140 mmHg, more intensive SBP target of <120 mmHg can further reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events in CVD patients with elevated blood pressure. Conclusion This study can provide reliable evaluation on whether more intensive SBP target of <120 mmHg is more desirable than SBP target of <140 mmHg in CVD patients with elevated blood pressure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siva H. Yedlapati ◽  
Safi U. Khan ◽  
Swapna Talluri ◽  
Ahmed N. Lone ◽  
Muhammad Zia Khan ◽  
...  

Background Influenza infection causes considerable morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. We assessed the effects of the influenza vaccine on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Methods and Results We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through January 2020 for randomized controlled trials and observational studies assessing the effects of influenza vaccine on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Estimates were reported as random effects risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs. Analyses were stratified by study design into randomized controlled trials and observational studies. A total of 16 studies (n=237 058), including 4 randomized controlled trials (n=1667) and 12 observational studies (n=235 391), were identified. Participants' mean age was 69.2±7.01 years, 36.6% were women, 65.1% had hypertension, 31.1% had diabetes mellitus, and 23.4% were smokers. At a median follow‐up duration of 19.5 months, influenza vaccine was associated with a lower risk of all‐cause mortality (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60–0.93 [ P =0.01]), cardiovascular mortality (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.80–0.84 [ P <0.001]), and major adverse cardiovascular events (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80–0.94 [ P <0.001]) compared with control. The use of the influenza vaccine was not associated with a statistically significant reduction of myocardial infarction (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.49–1.09 [ P =0.12]) compared with control. Conclusions Data from both randomized controlled trials and observational studies support the use of the influenza vaccine in adults with cardiovascular disease to reduce mortality and cardiovascular events, as currently supported by clinical guidelines. Clinicians and health systems should continue to promote the influenza vaccine as part of comprehensive secondary prevention.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Johansson ◽  
Mats Westas ◽  
Gerhard Andersson ◽  
Urban Alehagen ◽  
Anders Broström ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Depression is a common cause of reduced well-being and prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is a lack of effective intervention strategies targeting depression. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to evaluate the effects of a nurse-delivered and adapted internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program aimed at reducing depression in patients with CVD. METHODS A randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 144 patients with CVD with at least mild depression (Patient Health Questionnaire–9 [PHQ-9] score ≥5) were randomized 1:1 to a 9-week program of iCBT (n=72) or an active control participating in a Web-based discussion forum (online discussion forum [ODF], n=72). The iCBT program, which included 7 modules, was adapted to fit patients with CVD. Nurses with an experience of CVD care provided feedback and a short introduction to cognitive behavioral therapy. The primary outcome, depression, was measured using PHQ-9. Secondary outcomes were depression measured using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale–self-rating version (MADRS-S), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured using Short Form 12 (SF-12) survey and EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), and the level of adherence. An intention-to-treat analysis with multiple imputations was used. Between-group differences in the primary and secondary outcomes were determined by the analysis of covariance, and a sensitivity analysis was performed using mixed models. RESULTS Compared with ODF, iCBT had a significant and moderate treatment effect on the primary outcome depression (ie, PHQ-9; mean group difference=−2.34 [95% CI −3.58 to −1.10], <italic>P</italic>&lt;.001, Cohen <italic>d</italic>=0.62). In the secondary outcomes, compared with ODF, iCBT had a significant and large effect on depression (ie, MADRS-S; <italic>P</italic>&lt;.001, Cohen <italic>d</italic>=0.86) and a significant and moderate effect on the mental component scale of the SF-12 (<italic>P</italic>&lt;.001, Cohen <italic>d</italic>=0.66) and the EQ-VAS (<italic>P</italic>&lt;.001, Cohen <italic>d</italic>=0.62). Overall, 60% (n=43) of the iCBT group completed all 7 modules, whereas 82% (n=59) completed at least half of the modules. No patients were discontinued from the study owing to a high risk of suicide or deterioration in depression. CONCLUSIONS Nurse-delivered iCBT can reduce depression and improve HRQoL in patients with CVD, enabling treatment for depression in their own homes and at their preferred time. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02778074; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02778074


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