Age-related differences in invasive treatment of peripheral arterial disease: disease severity versus social support as determinants.
OBJECTIVE
Social support may influence the seeking of appropriate treatment. We examined social support and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) severity as determinants of treatment for PAD in younger and older patients.


METHODS
Consecutive PAD patients (N=203) completed the Perceived Social Support Scale. Treadmill-walking distance and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) were measured. The main outcome was invasive treatment for PAD in the year following diagnosis.


RESULTS
During follow-up, 48% of the patients underwent invasive treatment for PAD. Younger patients (<or=64 years) tended to be more often invasively treated as compared to older patients. In younger patients, a high level of social support predicted invasive treatment above and beyond PAD severity. In older patients, low ABPI predicted invasive treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Younger patients with inadequate social support may fail to seek appropriate treatment, suggesting the need to consider psychosocial factors in optimizing treatment of atherosclerotic vascular disease in this high-risk group.
Aquarius
Annelies E
AE
CoRPS, Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases, Department of Medical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Denollet
Johan
J
Hamming
Jaap F
JF
De Vries
Jolanda
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support