Anxiety and depression in patients with peripheral arterial disease admitted to a tertiary hospital

Occurrence of depression and assessment of functional capacity in patients with vascular diseases admitted to a Vascular Surgery Service

Background

Vascular diseases are associated with significant sequelae and clinical repercussions for the lives of affected patients, which are more serious among the elderly. The consequences of vascular disease, such as limb loss, chronic pain, prolonged hospitalization, and polypharmacy, reduce these patients' autonomy and independence, influencing their wellbeing and quality of life.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of depression and assess functional capacity in patients with vascular diseases admitted to a Vascular Surgery Service.

Methods

This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out at the Vascular Surgery Service of a tertiary hospital with a non-random sample of patients selected consecutively. The geriatric depression scale short form (GDS-15) was used to assess depression and the Katz scale was used for functional assessment.

Results

The prevalence of depression in these patients was 60.6%. Associations were observed between depression and consultation with a family doctor in the last 12 months, alcoholism, claudication, diabetes, and individuals who had had an amputation. Individuals' Katz index functional capacity scores were significantly associated with sociodemographic variables, conditions related to vascular disease, and hospitalization.

Conclusions

There was a high prevalence of depression in patients with vascular diseases admitted to a vascular surgery service and important reductions in functional capacity in some groups, such as individuals with low educational levels, those who had chronic pain in the lower limbs, patients with diabetes, and those who had had an amputation.

Effectiveness of REAC neuro postural and neuro psycho physical optimization in improving peripheral vasospasm dysfunction: a case report

This case report discusses an elderly male patient (86 years old), suffering from limb pain related to ulcers in the lower limbs resulting from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Clinically evaluated with the aid of infrared thermal imaging before, during and after treatment, he was submitted to treatment with neuromodulation protocols with REAC Technology, Neuro Postural Optimization (NPO) and Neuropsychophysical Optimization (NPPO) in association with traditional treatments for PAD. It was followed clinically with the aid of infrared thermal imaging of the lower limbs before, during and after treatment. He had a clinical result with a significant reduction in pain and infrared thermal images with complete revascularization of both feet. Evidencing that the treatment of dysfunctional adaptive responses by managing psychological factors often associated with anxiety, depression and stress performed by the REAC NPO and NPPO protocols can be a useful intervention to improve symptoms of patients with lower limb pain and circulatory disturbances.

Anxiety and Depression Scores in Patients Subjected to Arterial Revascularization for Critical Limb Ischemia

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to examine the changes in anxiety and depression scores in 138 patients with critical limb ischemia (rest pain or gangrene) who had no previous psychiatric history, at 30 days and 6 months after surgical revascularization.

METHODS

Patients were submitted to a questionnaire-based evaluation using the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories before surgery (no more than three days before surgery) ("Pre-Op"), 30 days after surgical revascularization ("Early PO") and at least 6 months after surgical revascularization ("Late PO"). The cut-off scores for depression were (1) < 10, no depression or minimal depression; (2) 10‒18, mild to moderate depression; (3) 19‒29, moderate to severe depression; and (4) 30‒63, severe depression. The cut-off scores for anxiety were (1) < 8, no anxiety or minimal anxiety; (2) 8‒15, mild anxiety; (3) 16‒25, moderate anxiety; and (4) 26‒63, severe anxiety.

RESULTS

No perioperative mortality was observed 30 days after surgical revascularization. Thirty-nine (28.2%) patients underwent major (above-ankle) amputation within 30 days. Mean anxiety and depression scores, respectively, declined from 12.48 ± 9.74 (mean ± SD) and 16.92 ± 12.48 preoperatively to 4.89 ± 7.04 and 6.52 ± 9.36 postoperatively (P<0.001, both). Anxiety and depression scores were not significantly affected by preoperative comorbidities (systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, previous stroke, and smoking), affected arterial territory (aortoiliac, femoropopliteal, or infrapopliteal), or surgical technique (open surgery vs endovascular therapy). Only patients undergoing amputation within 30 days showed no improvement in depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with critical limb ischemia have a high incidence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, which improve considerably after successful surgical revascularization. Major amputation was associated with a lack of improvement in depression scores. A formal psychiatric evaluation may be beneficial in patients who show no improvement in depressive symptoms.

Elevated Cardiopulmonary Complications after Revascularization in Patients with Severe Mental Health Disorders

INTRODUCTION

Mental health disorders (MHD) are prevalent within surgical patient populations and can be associated with poorer postoperative outcomes, particularly in those with more severe MHD (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). However, these associations have not been examined in vascular surgery patients. This study investigated patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization, hypothesizing that those with severe MHD would experience worse health and postoperative outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients from 2010-2015 with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) requiring revascularization was conducted, with subsequent narrowing to those with concurrent MHD diagnoses, including severe MHD (sMHD) defined as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and non-severe MHD (nsMHD), defined as anxiety or depression. The primary endpoints were 30-day mortality; Major Adverse Limb Events (MALE) including amputation at the above or below knee level; and Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) including myocardial infarction (MI), congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbation, and arrhythmia. Secondary endpoints were readmission within 30 days, pulmonary complications, and wound infection. Statistical analyses included Fisher Exact Test and Student's T-test.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients with MHD (sMHD, n=10; nsMHD, n=8) were identified and stratified. Twenty-four limbs were revascularized (sMHD, n=13; nsMHD, n=11). Overall incidence of 30-day mortality, MALE, and MACE were 4.2%, 33.3%, and 50.0%, respectively. Readmission rate, pneumonia, and wound infection occurred in 41.7%, 20.8%, and 16.7% of the population. Stratifying by MHD severity, no significant differences were observed for medical comorbidities, MALE, intervention type (open vs. endovascular), or treatment indication (claudication vs. critical limb ischemia). Patients with sMHD had significantly higher rates of MACE compared to patients with nsMHD (30.8% vs. 18.2%, p<.05). Pneumonia was also more prevalent in this group (38.5% vs. 0.0%, p<.05).

CONCLUSION

While patients with concurrent diagnoses of MHD and PAD presented with similar comorbidities, comparable disease severity, and were equally treated by open versus endovascular techniques, those with severe MHD suffered significantly elevated rates of cardiopulmonary complications, specifically MACE and pneumonia. Further investigation is warranted to identify opportunities to optimize post-operative care for these complex patients.

The prevalence and risk factors for phantom limb pain in people with amputations: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Phantom limb pain (PLP)—pain felt in the amputated limb–is often accompanied by significant suffering. Estimates of the burden of PLP have provided conflicting data. To obtain a robust estimate of the burden of PLP, we gathered and critically appraised the literature on the prevalence and risk factors associated with PLP in people with limb amputations.

Methods

Articles published between 1980 and July 2019 were identified through a systematic search of the following electronic databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Africa-Wide Information, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Academic Search Premier. Grey literature was searched on databases for preprints. Two reviewers independently conducted the screening of articles, data extraction and risk of bias assessment. The meta-analyses were conducted using the random effects model. A statistically significant level for the analyses was set at p<0.05.

Results

The pooling of all studies demonstrated a prevalence estimate of 64% [95% CI: 60.01–68.05] with high heterogeneity [I² = 95.95% (95% CI: 95.10–96.60)]. The prevalence of PLP was significantly lower in developing countries compared to developed countries [53.98% vs 66.55%; p = 0.03]. Persistent pre-operative pain, proximal site of amputation, stump pain, lower limb amputation and phantom sensations were identified as risk factors for PLP.

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis estimates that six of every 10 people with an amputation report PLP–a high and important prevalence of PLP. Healthcare professionals ought to be aware of the high rates of PLP and implement strategies to reduce PLP by addressing known risk factors, specifically those identified by the current study.