Research highlights:

• Treating anxiety and depression significantly reduced hospital readmissions and emergency department visits for heart disease patients.
• This may be the first study to show that treating anxiety and depression with pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy has a significant impact on heart disease outcomes.
• Researchers noted that people with heart disease who are also diagnosed with anxiety or depression may benefit from mental health treatments that improve cardiovascular disease outcomes.

Embargoed until Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 4:00 a.m. CT/5:00 a.m. ET

DALLAS, March 20, 2024 — Treatment for anxiety and depression reduces emergency department visits and readmissions for heart patients, says American Heart Association open-access, peer-reviewed Journal of the American This is revealed in a new study published today in the Heart Association. Association.

“For patients admitted with coronary artery disease or heart failure and diagnosed with anxiety or depression, treatment with psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, or a combination of both reduced hospitalizations or emergency department visits by as much as 75%. In some cases, deaths were reduced,” said study lead author Philip Binkley, MD, MPH, associate chair of internal medicine and professor emeritus of internal medicine and public health at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. .

Dr. Binkley noted that anxiety and depression are common in patients with heart failure, and that mental health can have a significant impact on an individual’s other health conditions, disability, and risk of death.

In this study, Binkley et al. found that mental health treatment and antidepressants or psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy or a combination of the two) were associated with lower emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in people with arterial blockages or heart failure. We investigated the relationship. Have a formal diagnosis of anxiety or depression prior to admission.

The analysis used three different statistical models that adjusted for a variety of variables and found that patients were compared to patients who were not treated for anxiety or depression.

• People who received both medication and talk therapy for anxiety or depression had a 68% to 75% reduced risk of hospitalization, a 67% to 74% reduced risk of an emergency room visit, and a 67% to 74% reduced risk of any illness. The risk of death was reduced by 68% to 75%. Causes decreased from 65% to 67%.
• Psychotherapy treatment alone reduced the risk of readmission by 46% to 49% and emergency department visits by 48% to 53%.
• Medication treatment alone reduced readmissions by 47% to 58% and ER visits by 41% to 49%.
• The follow-up period varied depending on each patient’s needs.

“Heart disease and anxiety/depression interact, and each promotes the other,” Binkley says. “There appears to be a psychological mechanism linking heart disease to anxiety and depression that is currently being investigated. Heart disease and anxiety/depression are both associated with activation of the sympathetic nervous system. It is part of the voluntary nervous system and can increase heart rate and blood pressure, which can also contribute to anxiety and depression.”

Professor Binkley believes the study’s strengths include the large number of patients with heart disease, the significant reduction in hospital admissions and emergency room visits, and the reduction in deaths.

“Our findings motivate cardiologists and health care professionals to routinely screen for depression and anxiety and demonstrate that collaborative care models are essential for managing cardiovascular and mental health.” “We also hope that these findings will spur further research into the relationship between mental health and heart disease mechanisms,” he said.

Research details and background:

• The study included 1,563 adults between the ages of 22 and 64 over a three-year period, all of whom had been hospitalized for the first time with blocked arteries or heart failure and had made at least two health insurance claims for anxiety or depression.
• It was noted that 68% of participants were female and 81% were Caucasian. All had been enrolled in Ohio’s Medicaid program for 6 months prior to hospitalization. The health data he received came from two sources. Ohio Medicaid claims and Ohio death certificate files from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2012.
• Participants were followed until the end of 2014 or until death or termination of Medicaid enrollment.
• Approximately 23% of participants received both antidepressants and psychotherapy. Almost 15% received psychotherapy only. 29% took antidepressants only. and 33% did not receive mental health treatment.
• Approximately 92% of study participants had been diagnosed with anxiety and 55.5% with depression before admission.

This study was limited to people with Medicaid and may not be representative of people with commercial health insurance plans. Additionally, it was noted that the majority of participants were Caucasian, so these findings may not apply to people of other races, ethnicities, or communities.

Co-authors, disclosure information, and funding sources are listed in the manuscript.

The study, published in the scientific journal of the American Heart Association, is peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely the opinions of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the Society. The Association makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy or reliability. The association is primarily funded by individuals. Foundations and corporations (including pharmaceuticals, device manufacturers, and other companies) also make contributions, which help fund specific programs and events for the association. The Society has strict policies in place to ensure that these relationships do not influence scientific content. Revenues from pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, device manufacturers, health insurance companies, and overall financial information for the association can be found here.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association works tirelessly to help the world live longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with thousands of organizations and the power of millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for public health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. In 2024, our 100th anniversary, we celebrate our rich 100 years of history and achievements. As we move into her second century of bold discovery and impact, our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Visit heart.org, Facebook, X, or call 1-800-AHA-USA1.

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