PAD patients fare better when they have a strong support system
Among patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), low social support was associated with worse outcomes at one year, according to a new study of more than 900 patients published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery.[1] The researchers also found that improving social support can improve health status and outcomes for PAD patients.
Social support is thought to bolster cardiovascular health by facilitating health-promoting behaviors and acting as a buffer against the impacts of stress on the heart. A team led by Santiago Callegari, MD, of the Yale Department of Internal Medicine, used questionnaires to assess perceived social support (ENRICHD Social Support Inventory), PAD-specific health status (Peripheral Artery Disease Questionnaire), and general health status (EuroQOL Visual Analog Scale) for 949 patients at baseline and then 12 months later.
Overall, the18.2% of respondents reporting low social support were linked to lower PAD questionnaire scores general health scores. This association between low social support and poorer outcomes remained strong even when adjusting for factors such as stress, depression and socioeconomic status.
The research team said their work highlights the importance of psychosocial factors, like social support and depression, in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. This could be a new area of focus for hospital systems looking to improve their outcomes beyond just using the latest technology and techniques.
"The focus has been on specific devices to open blockages or do bypasses," explained corresponding author Carlos Mena-Hurtado, MD, associate professor of medicine in cardiology, in a statement from Yale. "This study shows that it is time to see patients with PAD in a multidimensional way, such that a multidisciplinary team needs to get involved in their management."
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: dfornell@innovatehealthcare.com