Depression Raises Heart Failure Risk by 40 Percent, Norwegian Study Finds

A new study has found that moderate to severe depression raises heart failure risk by as much as 40 percent. The study was based on data from 63 000 people living in Norway. Depression is a serious mental illness that affects one in every ten adults in the U.S. Previous research has also shown that depression can accelerate aging and damage heart.

Heart failure is when the heart can't pump enough blood in the body. However, it doesn't mean that the heart has stopped working completely. People with heart failure need to seek medical attention, says the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

In the present study, researchers found a relationship between moderate to severe depression and heart failure.

"We found a dose response relationship between depressive symptoms and the risk of developing heart failure. That means that the more depressed you feel, the more you are at risk," Lise Tuset Gustad, first author of the study and an intensive care nurse at Levanger Hospital in Norway said.

The data for the study came from 63,000 people enrolled in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT study).  

Researchers found that some 1,500 people suffered from heart failure during the study. Data analysis showed that people with moderate depression had a 5 percent rise in heart failure risk while those with severe depression had 40 percent increased risk.

According to Gustad, there are several mechanisms by which depression can affect heart health. One of them is the release of stress hormones that accelerate inflammation and atherosclerosis, both of which can increase heart disease risk. Also, depressed people are more unlikely than others to follow a healthy lifestyle, making them more vulnerable to heart disease.

Depression can be treated without medication if caught early. Gustad has some tips on catching signs of depression.

"People who have lost interest in things they used to enjoy, such as reading or watching a television series, may have the early signs of depression. It's a good idea to see your doctor in these early stages for some advice on how to reduce your depression levels," she said in a news release.

The study results were presented at the EuroHeartCare 2014.