Heart failure patients with worsening depression 'at higher risk'
Thursday 20th January 2011
Patients with heart failure who are suffering from worsening depression are at a much higher risk of hospitalisation or death, a study has found.
Researchers at Duke University found that depression can have a significant effect on the cardiovascular health of heart failure patients, more than doubling their chance of hospitalisation or death.
The study investigated how changes in depression symptoms can impact on a patient's heart using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at the beginning of the study and then one year later.
It was found that those with a three-point or more increase in BDI score during the year were more than twice as likely to be hospitalised or to die due to cardiovascular problems during the five-year follow up.
Meanwhile, a study published in the Lancet has identified two genes linked to heart disease that could help those at risk of cardiac conditions - ADAMTS7, a gene associated with the build up of plaque in the arteries leading to the heart and the ABO blood group gene.
Written by James Puckle
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