New Research Links Irregular Heartbeat to Depression

Lisa Franchi December 17, 2013

Having an irregular heartbeat may slightly increase a person’s risk of developing depression, a new study found.

A normal heartbeat should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute when a person is resting. But people with atrial fibrillation have irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate, usually reaching more than 140. The main difference between a normal rhythm and atrial fibrillation is that one is unable to predict when the next heart beat will come along, as heart rate is irregular.

Now, a new study from the University Heart Centre in Hamburg investigated whether depression might affect the course of atrial fibrillation and the patients’ feelings about their disease. Researchers looked at the data of 10,000 German adults, of which 309 had atrial fibrillation. They then compared the average depression scores for people with atrial fibrillation to the scores of people without the condition.

Depression was measured from a scale of 0 to 27, with higher scores representing more severe depression. On average, people with atrial fibrillation scored a four, compared to an average of 3 among those without the condition.

The researchers also noticed that the difference in depression severity was mostly driven by physical symptoms. Chest and pains were more common or intense in people with irregular heartbeats.

Their findings support other studies that tie heart disorders with depression.

“There are a great set of studies, many of which show a much stronger effect,” said Sloan, who was not involved with the new study. He noted that a one-point difference in depression severity wouldn’t be noticeable to an individual. It is also unknown whether one condition leads to the other or if they simply share a common cause”, said Richard Sloan, Ph.D., the Nathaniel Wharton Professor of Behavioural Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University.

According to the researchers, screening for and treating depression symptoms might help heart patients feel better physically, and could possibly improve their conditions.

Source of this article:

Irregular Heartbeat Linked to Greater Risk for Depression