Depression and Heart Disease

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Depression is common in people who suffer from heart disease.

• About 18 to 20% of coronary heart disease patients without a history of heart attack experience depression.
• A significant percentage (40% to 65%) of coronary heart disease patients with a history of myocardial infarction (heart attack) experience depression.

Depression in heart disease patients is dangerous for a variety of reasons:

• The symptoms of depression may be disabling and can worsen the symptoms of heart disease.
• Depressed cardiac patients may be less prone to follow and adhere to cardiac treatment regimens.
• People who survive heart attacks but suffer from major depression have a three to four times greater risk of dying within six months than people who do not suffer from depression.

Although often co-occurring with heart disease, clinical depression is not an expected result of heart disease. When present, clinical depression should always be treated.