Inflammation as a Link Between Depression and Heart Failure

Heart failure affects more than 64 million people worldwide and imposes a substantial health and economic burden. Depression is a common and clinically important comorbidity of heart failure, associated with reduced quality of life, adverse health outcomes, hospitalisations, and increased mortality. The relationship appears bidirectional: heart failure increases the risk of developing depression, while depression may also increase the risk of incident heart failure. This suggests a complex interaction between the two conditions. Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of both heart failure and depression and does so through specific cytokine and inflammasome pathways. As such, inflammation is increasingly recognised as a vital contributing factor and a potential mechanistic link between the two disorders and as a contributor to poorer clinical outcomes when they coexist. This review examines the contribution of inflammation to depression and heart failure, evaluates its potential role in linking these conditions, and considers the implications for therapeutic strategies.