Heart disease risk in bipolar teens

Bipolar disorder is a major mood disorder that has long been recognized for its episodes of mania and depression, but the reasons for its connection to other health issues, such as heart disease, have been less clear.

Sunnybrook researchers, led by Dr. Benjamin Goldstein, director of the Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder, are hoping to uncover more about the link between bipolar disorder and heart disease. They are examining whether specific markers in the blood can improve our understanding of mood symptoms in bipolar disorder, as well as the increased risk of heart disease. The team is focusing on adolescents, who are at relatively early stages of bipolar disorder.

"Until now, the assessment of adolescents with bipolar disorder has been highly subjective, with less attention given to biological markers," says Goldstein, who is also assistant professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Toronto.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Goldstein and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh examined blood markers from 30 adolescents with bipolar disorder.

The researchers found a positive association between the severity of manic symptoms and elevated blood levels of hsCRP, a marker of inflammation associated with a higher risk of heart disease. The study also found that overweight teens were more likely to have higher levels of hsCRP. Overall, based on their hsCRP levels, 40 per cent of the study participants would be considered at-risk for heart disease if they were adults.

"Since we already know that adults with bipolar disorder are up to five times more likely to develop heart disease, these findings raise the concern that adolescents with bipolar disorder may be at risk for premature heart disease and other medical problems," says Goldstein.

Goldstein's upcoming research at Sunnybrook will focus on whether bipolar disorder and heart disease share similar biological characteristics. "We hope that this research will inform the assessment and treatment of these youth, and will provide us with a better understanding of the link between bipolar disorder and heart disease," says Goldstein.

Watch as Dr. Benjamin Goldstein talks about bipolar disorder and heart disease: