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Associations Between Cardiovascular Health (Life's Essential 8) and Mental Disorders

Yudi Xu1, Wenjing Ning2, Yuyuan Zhang3

  • 1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.

Clinical Cardiology
|September 24, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Higher cardiovascular health (CVH) scores, based on Life's Essential 8 (LE8), are linked to lower rates of depression and anxiety. Improving CVH may benefit mental well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Mental health is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Cardiovascular health (CVH) assessment using Life's Essential 8 (LE8) is crucial for understanding this relationship.
  • Investigating the association between LE8-defined CVH and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between cardiovascular health (CVH), as defined by Life's Essential 8 (LE8), and the prevalence of depression and anxiety.
  • To test the hypothesis that higher CVH is negatively associated with depression and anxiety.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional analysis of 13,028 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
  • Cardiovascular health was assessed using the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score, categorized into low, moderate, and high levels.
  • Weighted multivariable logistic regressions and restricted cubic splines analyzed the association between LE8 scores and mental health outcomes.

Main Results:

  • A significant negative association was found between LE8 scores and the prevalence of depression (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.58-0.65) and anxiety (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.75-0.81).
  • A nonlinear dose-response relationship was observed between LE8 and anxiety.
  • The study included 1206 participants with depression symptoms and 2947 with anxiety symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiovascular health, as measured by LE8, is independently and negatively associated with depression and anxiety.
  • Interventions focused on improving LE8 components could potentially enhance both cardiovascular health and mental well-being.
  • This research highlights the interconnectedness of physical and mental health.
Abstract

Keywords:
Life's Essential 8NHANESanxietycardiovascular healthdepression

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