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Social support, depression, and heart disease: a ten year literature review

Angelo Compare1, Cristina Zarbo, Gian Mauro Manzoni

  • 1Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo Bergamo, Italy.

Frontiers in Psychology
|July 13, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Depression and lack of social support are key risk factors for poor outcomes in heart disease patients. Cardiac care should address these psychosocial elements alongside medical treatment for better patient prognosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading global cause of death.
  • Psychosocial factors, including depression and low social support, are recognized risks for adverse outcomes in cardiac patients.
  • The interplay between depression, social support, and heart disease prognosis requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review empirical evidence from 2002-2012 on the multivariate relationship between depression, social support, and health outcomes in heart disease patients.
  • To evaluate the methodological rigor of studies examining these psychosocial factors in cardiac populations.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed and PsychINFO.
  • Quantitative studies assessing the impact of low social support and depression on cardiac prognosis were included.
  • Search terms included "social relation(*)", "cardiac disease", "support quality", "relationship", and "relational support".

Main Results:

  • Five studies (3 prospective cohort, 1 case-control, 1 RCT) were analyzed, differentiating social and marital support.
  • Low social support (or being unmarried) and depression independently predict poorer cardiac prognosis.
  • Most studies assessed the presence rather than the quality of social/marital relationships and had methodological limitations.

Conclusions:

  • Depressive symptoms and absence of social/marital support are significant risk factors for adverse cardiac outcomes.
  • Evidence suggests these factors independently predict negative health events in cardiac patients.
  • Cardiac rehabilitation should integrate assessment and treatment of depression with attention to patients' social and family contexts.
Abstract

Keywords:
cardiac diseasedepressionmarital statussocial relationshipsocial support

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