Researchers from Seoul National University found that mental disorders between the ages of 20 and 39 increase the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke threefold or more. Research published European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
The scientists analyzed data from more than 6.5 million people aged 20 to 39 from the database of the Korea National Health Insurance Service. About 900,000 participants had some form of mental illness, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
During the mean follow-up period (7.6 years), more than 16,000 cases of myocardial infarction and more than 10,000 cases of stroke were recorded. Presence of any mental disorder increased the probability of myocardial infarction by 58% and stroke by 42%.
Taking each disorder separately, people with post-traumatic stress disorder had an approximately 3-fold higher risk of myocardial infarction or stroke (compared to participants without psychiatric disorders). The risk of heart attack was more than double in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder. The risk was nearly doubled for eating disorders, depression, and a half-fold for anxiety.
Results were obtained after adjusting for age, sex, income, level of physical activity, and presence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, and bad habits. This means that the link between psychiatric disorders, stroke and heart attack cannot be explained by the unhealthy lifestyles of the participants.
“The results show that people with mental disorders should have regular medical checkups and take medication if necessary to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Although lifestyle does not explain the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, this does not mean that healthier habits will not improve prognosis. Therefore, lifestyle change should be offered to young people with mental disorders to improve heart health,” the scientists stressed.