Schizophrenia and Heart Health: Navigating the Hidden Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

Mental illnesses are very common across the world, with an estimated one in five adults—nearly 60 million people—impacted by at least one mental illness in the U.S. alone. Though schizophrenia isn’t as common as disorders like generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, it can be particularly debilitating.

Schizophrenia not only presents unsettling symptoms—like hearing voices that don’t exist—but it also leads to a host of comorbid conditions, including depression and substance abuse. Additionally, it’s possible those with schizophrenia may also be at heightened risk of sudden cardiac death.

Understanding the Link Between Schizophrenia and Sudden Cardiac Death

A recent analysis published in Heart shows that patients with schizophrenia are considerably more susceptible to sudden cardiac death. The study reviewed death certificates and autopsy reports of Danish residents with mental health disorders aged 18 to 90 in 2010.

The study observed death reports of 45,703 residents, and 6,002 of those deaths were categorized as sudden cardiac death. People with a history of psychiatric disorders were estimated to have a risk of sudden cardiac death between 1.79 and 6.45 times higher than the general population, and those with schizophrenia had the highest rate of cardiac-related death.

It was also determined that an 18-year-old diagnosed with some sort of psychiatric disorder was estimated to live an average of 10 years less than people without a history of mental health conditions.

Reducing Sudden Cardiac Death in Schizophrenia Patients

While living with schizophrenia historically leads to a multitude of comorbidities, including cardiac-related death, some of these comorbid conditions can be managed by following best general health practices.

To avoid sudden cardiac death specifically, patients are advised to:

• Exercise: Not only can regular exercise help improve symptoms of schizophrenia, but it’s also critical to optimal cardiac health.
• Eat a Balanced Diet: Atherosclerosis, or the excessive buildup of plaque in the arteries, is the leading cause of heart disease. This can be avoided by eating unprocessed, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.
• Avoid Smoking: Patients with schizophrenia often also struggle with substance abuse, which may include excessive nicotine use. However, smoking contributes to a host of cardiac and lung issues. Avoiding smoking is critical not only to one’s cardiovascular fitness, but their overall health.
• Go to Therapy: According to a study published in the European Heart Journal, improved mental health leads to improved heart health. In the study, patients with depression utilizing talk therapy experienced a 12 to 19 percent reduction in risks for cardiovascular disease.

The alarming correlation between schizophrenia and sudden cardiac death warrants considerable attention. But with proven methods of achieving ideal heart health, there is encouraging evidence that this association can be mitigated.

References:

Mujkanovic, J., Warming, P. E., Kessing, L. V., Køber, L. V., Winkel, B. G., Lynge, T. H., & Tfelt-Hansen, J. (2024, October 17). Nationwide burden of sudden cardiac death among patients with a psychiatric disorder. Heart. https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2024/09/17/heartjnl-2024-324092

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Mental illness. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness

National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK). (1970, January 1). Common mental health disorders. Common Mental Health Disorders: Identification and Pathways to Care. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92254/

El Baou, C., Desai, R., Cooper, C., Marchant, N. L., Pilling, S., Richards, M., Saunders, R., Buckman, J. E. J., Aguirre, E., John, A., & Stott, J. (2023, April 18). Psychological therapies for depression and cardiovascular risk: Evidence from National Healthcare Records in England. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/18/1650/7097470?login=false