Symptoms of Depression May Increase Risk of Heart Failure

New research from Ohio State University underscores the potential link between symptoms of depression and the incidence of heart failure.

The results, published in a recent issue of the American Heart Journal, suggest that depression is associated with increased levels of a cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha); cytokines can cause inflammation as part of the body’s response to injury or infection. This normal part of the inflammatory response can worsen heart failure, making it harder for the heart to pump blood.

However, it is still not clear which direction causation flows — whether depression increases the risk of heart failure, or whether heart failure increases the risk of depression. According to Amy Ferketich, the study’s lead author:

Depression clearly raises the levels of one cytokine, which plays a role in increasing inflammation. What we don’t know for sure is if depression causes the inflammation which may lead to heart failure or if heart failure causes depression which accelerates inflammation.

A study at Duke University found that patients with major depression are twice as likely to die or to be re-admitted to the hospital a second time within 12 months. Ferketich goes on:

Patients with heart disease are prone to developing depression. Physicians need to pay more attention to this. But research still needs to be done to find out if treating patients with anti-depressants would help to actually slow the progression of heart disease.