Study Links Mental Illness to Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Veterans

Overview of the Research

A comprehensive study involving over one million military veterans has revealed a significant connection between mental illnesses and an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This research utilized a large database from veterans receiving care within the Department of Veterans Affairs to analyze the impact of various psychiatric conditions on CVD outcomes over a five-year period.

Study Parameters and Population

The study focused on a diverse cohort of 1.5 million men and 94,000 women, aged 45 to 80, all of whom had no prior history of cardiovascular disease or clinical heart failure. Researchers controlled for multiple factors, including age, race, common cardiovascular risk indicators such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as the influence of antipsychotic and mood-stabilizer medications.

Findings on Specific Mental Illnesses

The results indicated that conditions such as depression, psychosis, and bipolar disorder are significantly associated with a heightened risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Notably, psychosis was found to have the most substantial impact on both cardiovascular events and mortality rates across both genders.

Gender and Racial Differences

The study also highlighted some differences based on gender and race. For instance, anxiety was linked to cardiovascular disease mortality exclusively in men, while mental illnesses generally appeared to exert a less pronounced effect on the black population.

Implications for Treatment

The researchers emphasized that understanding which mental health conditions carry the highest cardiovascular risks could aid in identifying individuals who may benefit from adjunct therapies, such as cholesterol-lowering drugs and blood pressure medications.

Limitations of the Study

While the findings are compelling due to the extensive sample size, caution is advised. The study’s cohort was exclusively drawn from veterans, which may limit the generalizability of the results to the broader population.

Further Reading

This study was conducted by Mary C. Vance, MD, MSc, Wyndy L. Wiitala, PhD, Jeremy B. Sussman, MD, MS, Paul Pfeiffer, MD, MS, and Rodney A. Hayward, MD, and was published in October 2019 in *Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes*. For additional insights, refer to the article titled “Veterans with mental health conditions have higher risk of heart disease, stroke” available at Eureka Alert.

Image Credit

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.