1 in 4 cardiologists struggle with mental health conditions, says study

Mental health conditions (MHCs) befall many cardiologists globally, which may lead to substantial adverse effects on their professional life, reveals a study.

To determine the global prevalence of MHCs among cardiologists and its association with professional life, the American College of Cardiology conducted an online survey with 5,931 cardiologists in 2019.

The investigators analysed data on demographics, practice, MHC, and relationship with professional activities. They then calculated the p values using the chi-square, Fischer exact, and Mann-Whitney U tests. Finally, the association of characteristics with MHC was determined through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

One in four cardiologists across the globe reported experiencing any MHC, including psychological distress and major or other psychiatric disorder. A significant geographic variation in MHCs was observed, with the highest and lowest prevalence seen in South America (39.3 percent) and Asia (20.1 percent; p<0.001).

MHCs were predicted by age <55 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.43, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.24‒1.66), discrimination (OR, 1.85, 95 percent CI, 1.61‒2.12), being divorced (OR, 1.85, 95 percent CI, 1.27‒2.36), and experiencing emotional harassment (OR, 2.81, 95 percent CI, 2.46‒3.20).

Women, compared with men, were more likely to consider suicide within the past 12 months (3.8 percent vs 2.3 percent), but they were also more likely to seek help (42.3 percent vs 31.1 percent; p<0.001 for all).

Less than half of cardiologists reporting MHCs (44 percent) reported dissatisfaction on at least one professional metric, including feeling value, treated fairly, and adequate compensation.

“Dedicated efforts toward prevention and treatment are needed to maximize the contributions of affected cardiologists,” the investigators said.