Investigation and risk factor analysis of anxiety and depression in patients with lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans.

Background: The prevalence of lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans (LEASO) in China is progressively increasing with the increment in age. Certain patients may be diagnosed with lower extremity arterial stenosis and occlusion that resist complete curative efforts, which will invariably impose a substantial psychological strain on them.

Aim: To investigate the anxiety and depression conditions among patients with LEASO and analyze the associated risk factors.

Methods: The Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University from January 2019 to December 2022. Their demographic and clinical data were obtained through the basic information questionnaire. The social support situation was assessed with the social support rating scale, and the hospital anxiety and depression scale were used to analyze their depression and anxiety levels.

Results: The prevalence rate of anxiety was 44.0% among the 159 patients, with a total Self-Rating Anxiety Scale score of 49.01 ± 9.65. The incidence of depression was 40.9%, and the total self-rating depression scale score reached 49.91 ± 9.18. The overall social support score for all participants averaged 24.82 ± 5.80. The correlation analysis between social support scores and anxiety and depression scores revealed that the total social support score, subjective social support, objective social support, as well as the degree of social support utilization, all exhibited a significant negative correlation with the anxiety and depression scores, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the depression and anxiety states among patients with varying pain manifestations, disease stages, disease durations, and social support magnitudes (P < 0.05). The multivariate analysis further demonstrated that patients presenting with intermittent claudication, rest pain, and pain, whose disease course was within half a year, and who had relatively low social support, were more predisposed to anxiety. Intriguingly, a monthly income of > 6000 yuan was considered a protective factor in this context (P < 0.05). Similarly, patients with intermittent claudication, rest pain, gangrene, and pain, and who had relatively low social support, were more liable to succumb to depressive moods (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Patients with LEASO typically receive relatively scant social support. Notably, those who concurrently present with symptoms, such as pain, claudication, and gangrene, are at a substantially increased risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders. A significant negative correlation is manifested between the social support level that patients receive and the severity of their anxiety and depression symptoms. Hence, the lower the social support score, the greater the propensity for patients to experience anxiety and depressive emotions. Therefore, during clinical practice, the crucial role that social support plays in safeguarding patients' physical and mental well-being as well as facilitating the effectiveness of disease treatment needs to be particularly emphasized.