Divorce ups risk of death for heart attack survivors

MARRIED people who have had a heart attack are more likely to survive another or even a stroke than divorcees are, a new study suggests.

Researchers tracked more than 29,000 patients in Sweden, aged 40 to 76, for four years after they had a heart attack.

Divorcees were 18% more likely to have another, or a stroke or die from heart disease, said Dr Joel Ohm, of the Karolinska Institute in Solna.

He said the findings would help doctors target care on certain groups. About 10,000 people die each year in Ireland from cardiovascular disease – including coronary heart disease, stroke and other circulatory diseases.

The Swedish study also found those in more high-income households and people who had spent longer in education were also more likely to avoid another heart attack or stroke.

Dr Ohm said the findings were significant as it showed how follow-up care should not be ‘one size fits all’. He said: ‘Nowadays all patients that have had a heart attack are considered to be equally high risk but this shows that it is not the case.’

‘Just as with primary prevention of heart attacks, the risk of a secondary episode varies from individual to individual.

‘More intense treatment could be targeted to high-risk groups.’

Scientists have previously called marriage the ‘most fundamental’ form of social support because previous research has found it also lowers the risk of dementia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Experts believe those with a loving partner were more likely to be encouraged to look after themselves, keep fit and take the necessary medication.

Dr Ohm pointed out: ‘No matter the reasons why, doctors should include marital and socioeconomic status when assessing a heart attack survivor’s risk of a recurrent event.

‘More intense treatment could then be targeted to high risk groups.’