Mental health conditions and bleeding events in patients with incident atrial fibrillation: A Finnish nationwide cohort study

Exploring the Association between Schizophrenia and Cardiovascular Diseases: Insights into the Role of Sigma 1 Receptor

Contemporary society is characterized by rapid changes. Various epidemiological, political and economic crises represent a burden to mental health of nowadays population, which may at least partially explain the increasing incidence of mental disorders, including schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is associated with premature mortality by at least 13-15 years. The leading cause of premature mortality in schizophrenia patients is high incidence of cardiovascular diseases. The specific-cause mortality risk for cardiovascular diseases in schizophrenia patients is more than twice higher as compared to the general population. Several factors are discussed as the factor of cardiovascular diseases development. Intensive efforts to identify possible link between schizophrenia and cardiovascular diseases are made. It seems that sigma 1 receptor may represent such link. By modulation of the activity of several neurotransmitter systems, including dopamine, glutamate, and GABA, sigma 1 receptor might play a role in pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Moreover, significant roles of sigma 1 receptor in cardiovascular system have been repeatedly reported. The detailed role of sigma 1 receptor in both schizophrenia and cardiovascular disorders development however remains unclear. The article presents an overview of current knowledge about the association between schizophrenia and cardiovascular diseases and proposes possible explanations with special emphasis on the role of the sigma 1 receptor.

Impact of mental disorders on the risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with diabetes mellitus: a nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether mental disorders are an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with diabetes. We aimed to investigate whether patients with diabetes who have mental disorders have an increased risk for AF.

METHODS

Using the Korea National Health Insurance Service database, we enrolled 2,512,690 patients diagnosed with diabetes without AF between 2009 and 2012. We assessed five mental disorders: depression, insomnia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Newly diagnosed AF was identified during the follow-up period, and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Among the 2,512,690 patients (mean age 57.2 ± 12.3 years; 60.1% men), 828,929 (33.0%) had mental disorders. Among the five mental disorders, anxiety (68.1%) was the most common, followed by insomnia (40.0%). During a median follow-up duration of 7.1 years, new-onset AF was diagnosed in 79,525 patients (4.66 per 1,000 person-years). Patients with diabetes who had mental disorders showed a higher risk for AF (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-1.21; p-value < 0.001). Depression, insomnia, and anxiety were significantly associated with higher risk for AF (adjusted HR [95% CI]: 1.15 [1.12-1.17], 1.15 [1.13-1.18], and 1.19 [1.67-1.21], respectively; all p-values < 0.001), whereas bipolar disorder and schizophrenia were not.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental disorders, especially depression, insomnia, and anxiety, were associated with an increased risk for AF in patients with diabetes. Greater awareness with a prompt diagnosis of AF should be considered for patients with both DM and mental disorders.