Depression among predictors of intermittent claudication: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between depression and intermittent claudication (IC), independently of traditional risk factors. MAIN METHODS: The sample consisted of 300 individuals (M age = 65.3 ± 8.7 years, 61.0% female) recruited from the offices of 33 general practitioners. Participants' medical history and the presence of major cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. Participants completed the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire. The role of depression (assessed by a shortened version of the Beck Depression Inventory) in predicting IC was examined using a binary logistic regression analysis - controlled for sex, age, hypertonia, diabetes, smoking, hypercholesterinemia, hazardous drinking, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: The descriptive data indicated that the prevalence of depression was 57.9% in the IC subgroup and 16.1% in those free of IC. The bivariate analyses indicated that hypercholesterinemia, smoking, hazardous drinking, BMI, and depression were significantly associated with IC. Male sex and age showed a trend toward being a significant correlate of IC. Results of the multivariate analyses indicated that depressive symptomatology was significant in predicting IC (OR: 1.08 (1.05-1.11)), even after controlling for lifestyle and traditional risk factors such as smoking, hazardous drinking, and BMI. Among traditional risk factors, smoking (OR: 2.44 (1.26-4.74)), hazardous drinking (OR: 1.19 (1.02-1.40)), and hypercholesterinemia (OR: 2.17 (1.26-3.75)) showed a significant, positive relationship with IC. CONCLUSIONS: These results underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that focuses on supporting health-related behavioral changes and managing mental health symptoms when providing care for patients with IC.

A summary of data of screening of the lower limb peripheral arterial diseases in the region of Northern Hungary / Tapasztalataink az alsó végtagi perifériás artériás érbetegség szurésérol az Észak-Magyarország régióban

INTRODUCTION: The screening tool for diagnosing lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is the assessment of the ankle-brachial index (ABI). In patients at risk for LEAD, the purpose of screening is to avoid major adverse limb events, such as amputation. However, resting ABI can easily produce a false negative result. AIM: In light of this, our goal was to test the usefulness of an easily performed, fast and cost-effective screening method and to determine the proportion of subjects without definitive diagnoses among patients screened in general practice (with special attention to groups having negative ABI with symptoms and patients with non-compressible arteries). METHOD: 680 patients were screened from the region of Northern Hungary. We used the Edinburgh Questionnaire, recorded medical histories, major risk factors, current complaints, and medication. Physical examinations were performed, including ABI testing. RESULTS: 34% complained about lower extremity claudication; 23% had abnormal ABI values; 14% of the patients within the normal ABI range had complaints of dysbasia; 12% were in the non-compressible artery group. The ABI-negative symptomatic group's risk factor profile showed a close similarity to the clear LEAD-positive and non-compressible artery groups. CONCLUSION: The percentage of LEAD could be higher than the number of patients diagnosed by ABI screening. Nearly a quarter of the population fell into the non-compressible artery and ABI-negative symptomatic groups. When screening purposely for LEAD, these patients deserve special attention due to the insufficient selectivity and sensitivity of measurements. If there is a high clinical suspicion of LEAD in spite of normal ABI values, further assessment may be considered. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(33): 1381-1389.

Depressive symptomatology and personality traits in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of depressive symptomatology and personality traits with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS: The sample of this cross-sectional study comprised of 300 individuals (Mage = 65.3 ± 8.7 years, 61.0% female) recruited from the offices of 33 general practitioners. Based on at-rest ankle-brachial index (ABI) values and claudication symptoms, four subsamples were formed: clear PAD-positive, clear PAD-negative, ABI-negative but symptomatic, and a non-compressible-artery group. The concurrent role of depression (assessed by a shortened version of the Beck Depression Inventory) and personality traits (measured by the Big Five Inventory) in predicting PAD status was examined using multinomial logistic regression - controlled for sex, age, hypertonia, diabetes, smoking, hazardous drinking, and body mass index. RESULTS: Depressive symptomatology was significant in predicting peripheral arterial disease status even after controlling for both traditional risk factors and personality traits. Among the Big Five personality traits, neuroticism showed a significant, positive relationship with PAD - independently of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PAD - even those with asymptomatic forms of the disease - are at higher risk for suffering from depression compared to individuals without PAD, independently of neuroticism, other Big Five personality dimensions or traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Screening of peripheral arterial disease in primary health care.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The screening tool for diagnosing lower extremity arterial disease is the assessment of the ankle-brachial index (ABI), which is widely used in general practice. However, resting ABI can easily produce a false negative result. In light of this, our goal was to determine the proportion of definitive diagnoses (peripheral arterial disease [PAD] confirmed or refuted) among patients screened in general practice, and the rate of cases in which the need for further specialized examination is necessary, with special attention to groups having non-compressible arteries and ABI negative symptomatic status. The aim of our work is to improve the efficiency of primary health care screening in PAD and reduce the extremely high domestic amputation ratio. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight hundred and sixteen patients were screened. We used the Edinburgh Questionnaire and recorded medical histories, major risk factors, current complaints, and medication. Physical examinations were performed, including ABI testing. RESULTS: Thirty-three percent complained about lower extremity claudication; 23% had abnormal ABI values; 13% of the patients within the normal ABI range had complaints of dysbasia; and 12% were in the non-compressible artery group. The ABI-negative symptomatic group's risk factor profile showed a close similarity to the clear PAD-positive and non-compressible artery groups. CONCLUSION: The percentage of PAD could be higher than the number of patients diagnosed by ABI screening. Nearly a quarter of the population fell into the non-compressible artery and ABI-negative symptomatic groups, together defined as the "murky zone". When screening purposely for PAD, these patients deserve special attention due to the insufficient selectivity and sensitivity of measurements. If there is high clinical suspicion of PAD in spite of normal ABI values, further assessment may be considered.