The following is a summary of “Prevalence and Professional Impact of Mental Health Conditions Among Cardiologists,” published in the February 2023 issue of Cardiology by Sharma, et al.
Physician mental illness is a recognized problem that is getting worse. There are few international studies on MHCs among cardiologists. For a study, researchers sought to examine the incidence of MHCs among cardiologists globally and their associations with professional life.
In 2019, the American College of Cardiology polled 5,931 cardiologists worldwide online. The analysis included information on demographics, practice, MHC, and relationship with professional activities. Mann-Whitney U, Fischer exact, and chi-square tests were used to determine the P values. In addition, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed the relationships between several traits and MHC.
A serious or other psychiatric disorder, psychological discomfort, or any other self-reported MHC affects 1 in 4 cardiologists worldwide. MHC prevalence varies significantly by region, with the highest and lowest prevalence’s seen in South America (39.3%) and Asia (20.1%), respectively (P< 0.001). MHCs were predicted by having experienced emotional harassment (OR: 2.81; 95% CI: 2.46-3.20), discrimination (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.61-2.12), divorce (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.27-2.36), and age < 55 years (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.24-1.66). Women were more likely than men to have thought about suicide in the previous 12 months (3.8% vs. 2.3%), but they were also more likely to seek treatment (42.3% vs. 31.1%) (all P< 0.001).
On at least one professional metric, such as feeling respected, being treated properly, and receiving enough compensation, nearly half of the cardiologists reporting MHCs (44%) expressed dissatisfaction.
Globally, more than 1 in 4 cardiologists report having MHCs, and there was a strong correlation between these conditions and unfavorable work situations. To make the most of the contributions of the afflicted cardiologists, focused efforts toward prevention and treatment are required.
Reference: jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2022.11.025
