Illness risk for bereaved
Tuesday February 25th, 2014
People who have lost a partner may face a doubled risk of suffering heart attack or stroke in the next few weeks, British researchers reported last night.
A
major study, involving more than 110,000 people, found the risk of serious
illness massively increased in the 30 days after bereavement.
Out of 30,000 people who suffered bereavement, 50 experienced a heart attack or stroke - a rate of 0.16%.
This compared with 67 of the other 83,000 - a rate of 0.08%.
Researcher Dr Iain Carey, of St. George’s, University of London, reported his findings in JAMA Internal Medicine.
He said it might be possible to take precautions to protect the recently bereaved from serious illness.
He said: "We have described a marked increase in cardiovascular risk in the month after spousal bereavement, which seems likely to be the result of adverse physiological responses associated with acute grief.
"A better understanding of psychosocial factors associated with acute cardiovascular events may provide opportunities for prevention and improved clinical care."
JAMA Intern Med. 24 February 2014; doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1455
Tags: Elderly Health | Heart Health | Mental Health | UK News
Printer friendly page