A study from Seoul National University shows that mental health challenges in people aged 20 to 39 are linked to a significantly higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The findings appeared in a major cardiovascular health journal.
Researchers used data from more than 6.5 million individuals in the Korea National Health Insurance Service database. About 900,000 of these participants had a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or insomnia.
Over an average follow-up of 7.6 years, the team recorded more than 16,000 heart attack events and over 10,000 strokes. The presence of any psychiatric disorder raised the likelihood of a heart attack by about 58 percent and stroke by about 42 percent.
Looking at specific disorders, those with post-traumatic stress disorder faced an almost threefold higher risk of heart attack or stroke compared with people without psychiatric conditions. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders more than doubled the risk of a heart attack. Eating disorders, depression, and anxiety each carried substantial increases in risk, with anxiety contributing about half again the danger in comparison to those without mental health issues.
The results held after adjusting for age, sex, income, physical activity, and a range of health factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, and unhealthy habits. In other words, the link between mental disorders and cardiovascular events was not fully explained by lifestyle alone.
Experts emphasized that individuals with mental health conditions should receive regular medical evaluations and appropriate treatment to reduce the chances of heart problems and stroke. While changing lifestyle did not fully account for the elevated risk, adopting healthier habits can still improve outlooks. The researchers advocate offering lifestyle guidance to young people with mental health issues as part of a broader strategy to protect heart health.
These insights underscore the importance of integrating mental health care with cardiovascular prevention, especially for younger adults. Early identification and comprehensive care can help mitigate risk and support long-term well-being.