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, 19 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. "It is time to move beyond a purely biological approach to cardiovascular disease and health, and adopt a more holistic perspective that includes mental health as an integral part of patient well-being.”
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 Whooley questions or 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 change the way we practice, not just in cardiovascular care, but in adopting a more holistic, global approach to patient care across our departments. I believe this shift will be the key to making a significant improvement in cardiovascular health for our patients," 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.
ENDS
Our mission: To reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.