Certain mental health issues may signify an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease among younger women, according to a press release from the ACC. The rates of cardiovascular risk factors and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression have become more prevalent in younger individuals—especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. In a new study presented by Civieri et al at the ACC Annual Scientific Session 2024, investigators used the Mass General Brigham Biobank to analyze the health records of 71,124 patients. After a follow-up of 10 years, the investigators found that 38% of the patients developed high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and/or diabetes. Compared with those who did not have a history of mental health issues, patients with a history of anxiety or depression prior to the study period were 55% more likely to develop cardiovascular risk factors. Additionally, patients younger than age 50 with anxiety or depression were nearly 100% more likely to develop cardiovascular risk factors compared with any other patient group. Although previous studies have demonstrated that younger women tend to have a lower risk of cardiovascular risk factors, the investigators emphasized that anxiety and depression raised their relative risk by increasing stress-related neural activity. The new findings highlight the importance of cardiovascular disease screening and prevention in younger patients with known mental health issues.