At least a quarter of cardiac patients suffer with depression, and adults with depression are more likely to develop heart disease. Depression has been shown to have physiological effects that are detrimental to heart health as well as behavioural responses that encourage heart disease. Depressed patients with coronary heart disease have reduced heart-rate variability and have higher levels of blood markers for inflammation and clotting. But despite the established links, people with heart disease are rarely assessed for signs of psychological illness. People with coronary artery disease should be routinely assessed for depression, and patients with depression should be regularly assessed for coronary artery disease risk factors.

Source: The Irish Times April 07, 2026 09:45 UTC