Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause for premature mortality in patients with mental illness, particularly those with severe psychiatric disorders.

The numbers bear out the link: The life expectancy of a person with severe mental illness is 15-20 years shorter than that of unaffected individuals, largely thanks to the effects of cardiac conditions. Patients with depression have a two to fourfold increased risk for developing CVD and a two to fourfold higher risk for mortality after experiencing a cardiac event compared to individuals without depression.

A panel discussion at the 2025 annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology held in Madrid, Spain, in conjunction with the Inter-American Society of Cardiology explored the intersection of the heart and the mind.

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