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Brain and Heart Dynamics pp 281–295Cite as

Depression and Cardiovascular Diseases

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Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and depression share a common epidemiology, thus suggesting a mutual link between these two disorders. Growing evidence supports the detrimental influence of depression on cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes. Reciprocally, depression rates in patients with known CVD are higher than in the general population. Heart and brain seem to be intertwined in a psycho-neuro-hormonal-cardiovascular axis. Their disorders emerge from pathophysiological derangements in the same fundamental mechanisms, including inflammation, platelet reactivity, autonomic dysregulation, circadian rhythm and sleep disruption, hormone imbalance, and neurotrophins. In addition, common unhealthy lifestyle habits, mainly poor diet, low physical activity, and tobacco use, might help explain the association between depression and CVD. Notwithstanding this, depression is grossly under-detected and under-treated in patients with CVD. The application of pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches to the treatment of depression might help physicians to optimize health outcomes and quality of life for their CVD patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Isabella Masci & Sergio Merlino

  2. Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy

    Grazia Rutigliano

  3. Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy

    Grazia Rutigliano

Authors
  1. Isabella Masci
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  2. Sergio Merlino
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  3. Grazia Rutigliano
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Grazia Rutigliano .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Drug Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Stefano Govoni

  2. Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Pierluigi Politi

  3. Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Emilio Vanoli

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Brain and Behavioral Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Matteo Rocchetti

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Masci, I., Merlino, S., Rutigliano, G. (2020). Depression and Cardiovascular Diseases. In: Govoni, S., Politi, P., Vanoli, E. (eds) Brain and Heart Dynamics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28008-6_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28008-6_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-28007-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-28008-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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