Key take-aways
• Professor Hector Bueno urges a shift from focusing solely on cardiovascular health to integrating mental health as a key part of patient care.
• ESC consensus statement on depression and cardiovascular disease is set for publication in 2025.
• Season 3 of ESC TV Today is available for viewers from 19 Dec 2024 to 16 Jan 2025.
Sophia Antipolis, 17 December 2024: Depression worsens outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease, increasing risks of mortality, recurrences, and complications such as atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction, says Professor Hector Bueno, lead author of the forthcoming ESC consensus statement on depression and cardiovascular disease, set for publication in 2025.
In the latest episode of ESC TV Today, the biweekly cardiovascular news program produced by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), Professor Bueno discusses the impact of depression on heart disease outcomes. "A systematic approach to identifying depression could mark a turning point in how we care for cardiovascular patients," he says. "It's time to shift from a purely biological view of cardiovascular disease to a holistic model that incorporates mental health into comprehensive care."
Despite the apparent benefits of treating depression in cardiovascular patients, trials assessing its impact on cardiovascular outcomes have shown mixed results, highlighting the urgent need for further research and larger studies.
Professor Bueno advocates for systematic screening of depressive symptoms in cardiac patients. He suggests transitioning from reliance on clinical suspicion to a stepped approach using simple tools like the PHQ-2 questionnaire, integrated into multidisciplinary care pathways. In addition to traditional methods, Prof. Bueno sees potential in web-based applications and digital interventions. However, he stresses that the most significant change is in the culture of care.
"We need to move beyond a narrow focus on cardiovascular health to embrace a broader perspective that sees mental health as an integral part of patient care," he concluded.
The milestone 50th episode of ESC TV Today is now available for viewers worldwide. This special milestone episode looks also into hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, and the so-called "French Paradox." Is red wine truly beneficial for coronary health? Episodes are accessible to all viewers for four weeks from their release date.
Season 3 of ESC TV Today will be exclusively available for viewers from December 19, 2024, to January 16, 2025.
