Mental health disorders may double risk for CVD, stroke

No definition of a mental health disorder so this is completely useless. Once again proving that we have idiots in our stroke medical midst.
http://www.healio.com/cardiology/chd-prevention/news/online/%7B09b2e006-50b9-44ab-bf39-fe0e0ead268a%7D/mental-health-disorders-may-double-risk-for-cvd-stroke
People with mental health disorders and those who reported use of psychoactive medications had nearly double the risk for CVD and stroke, according to survey results presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress.

Researchers assessed data collected from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2, a nationally representative household survey of 36,984 Canadians aged 15 years and older living in private residences across all provinces. The prevalence of CVD was assessed among patients with single or comorbid mental health disorders, as well as among those taking psychoactive medications, including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and benzodiazepine.
Participants who reported a history of mental health disorders were significantly more likely to also have experienced CVD (OR=2; 95% CI, 1.8-2.2) or stroke (OR=2.3; 95% CI, 1.7-3) when compared with participants who reported no history. Among participants who had not developed CVD or stroke, the 30-year risk for future development also was higher among those with mental health disorders compared with those with no history of mental health disorders (OR=1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4).
The use of psychoactive medications was associated with significantly increased risk for CVD (OR=2.4; 95% CI, 2.1-2.8) and stroke (OR=2.8; 95% CI, 2.3-3.4) compared with nonuse. Participants who reported use of these medications were also significantly more likely to be in the highest 30-year risk category for CVD (OR=1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.7).
“The medications themselves account for a lot of risk in this group,” Katie Goldie, PhD, RN, postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, said in a press release. She noted that risk behaviors such as poor diet, lack of exercise and use of tobacco and alcohol also were common among patients with mental health disorders, which could contribute to the observed CVD risk increase in this population.
Goldie also said access to care is a concern among people with mental health disorders. “They may not even seek care because of the symptoms of their disorder,” she said. “A separation between primary and mental health services can also challenge these patients’ care. We need improved integration and collaboration.”
The researchers called for further study of the observed associations between mental health and CVD, and stressed the benefits of routine CV risk assessments before and after administration of psychopharmacological therapy, along with interventions targeting CV risk factors, among these patients.
For more information:
Goldie CL. Abstract #129. Presented at: Canadian Cardiovascular Congress; Oct. 25-28, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia.