A prospective investigation of depression and adverse outcomes in patients undergoing vascular surgical interventions: A retrospective cohort study using a large mental health database in South London

The Impact of Mental Health on Patient Outcomes in Peripheral Arterial Disease and Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia and Potential Avenues to Treatment

The physical consequences of peripheral artery disease (PAD) are well established; however, the impact of comorbid mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety are not well understood. The impact of psychological stress is not only associated with worse perioperative morbidity and mortality but also with a physiologic cascade that accelerates plaque formation. Increasing screening to identify and subsequently treat comorbid mental health disorders is an integral next step in improving outcomes in PAD management. Failure to adequately address social and psychological impact on PAD patients will further widen the gap in disparities faced by high-risk and disenfranchised populations. Integration of mental health professionals, addiction specialists, and community navigators into multidisciplinary care teams can bolster support for PAD patients and improve outcomes.

Diagnosis of mental illness does not affect postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in the VA healthcare system

OBJECTIVE

Mental illness can be a debilitating chronic disease associated with a higher likelihood of preexisting medical comorbidities and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Given the relative prevalence of mental health disorders among the veteran population, we sought to examine postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

METHODS

Retrospective review of a single institution Veterans Administration Hospital operative database was used to identify patients who underwent EVAR from January 2010 to December 2021. Patients' demographics, comorbidities, medications, and intraoperative variables were collected. In addition, mental illness status was evaluated to stratify patients based on preexisting anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse disorder, or major psychiatric illness. The study's primary outcomes were postoperative complications, mortality, and follow-up rates. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay, readmission rates, and intervention rates.

RESULTS

A total of 241 patients underwent infrarenal EVARs at our institution. One hundred forty patients (58.1%) were diagnosed with mental illness, whereas 101 (41.9%) had no prior diagnosis of mental illness. Of the 241 patients, 65.7% had a history of substance abuse disorder, 38.6% depression, 29.3% post-traumatic stress disorder, 19.3% anxiety, and 3.6% major psychiatric illness. There was no statistical difference in the number of medical comorbidities, race, smoking status, or medications compared with patients without mental illness. We found no statistical difference in access type, wound infection rates, hypogastric coiling, estimated blood loss, and operating time. χ2 analysis demonstrated a statistically significant lower overall postoperative complication rate (28.6% vs 32.7%; P = .05) and decreased loss to follow-up (8.6% vs 15.8%; P = .05) among patients with a preexisting mental illness diagnosis. There were no statistically significant differences in readmission rate, length of stay, or 30-day mortality. When stratified by type of mental illness, binary logistic regression demonstrated no statistically significant differences in primary outcomes of postoperative complications, readmission rates, loss to follow-up, and 1-year mortality. Cox proportional hazards modeling demonstrated no significant difference in cumulative survival in patients diagnosed with a mental illness (0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.29-0.107; P = .08).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no association between the presence of a prior mental health diagnosis and adverse outcomes following EVAR. Preceding mental illness did not correlate with an increased rate of complications, readmission, length of stay, or 30-day mortality in a veteran population. Lower loss to follow-up rates in patients with mental illness may reflect overall Veterans Health Administration expansion in resources and surveillance of these at-risk individuals. Further research is needed to assess the association between postoperative outcomes and mental illness.

Psychological distress and health perception in patients with a previous myocardial infarction or stroke: a national cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

While understanding the impact of mental health on health perception improves patient-centered care, this relationship is not well-established in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined the relationship between psychological distress and health perception in patients with a previous myocardial infarction (MI) and/or stroke.

METHODS

We extracted data for patients with a previous MI and/or stroke from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Health perception was self-reported. Presence and severity of anxiety and depression were estimated using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8). Binary analyses of anxiety/depression, multivariable logistic regressions controlling for confounders, and univariable analyses of confounders and anxiety/depression severity were performed.

RESULTS

Of 31,948 individuals for whom data on MI/stroke was available, 1235 reported a previous MI and 1203 a previous stroke. The odds of positive perceived health status were lower for individuals with anxiety/depression compared to those without anxiety/depression in both post-MI (anxiety OR 0.52, 95% CI = 0.32-0.85, P < 0.001; depression OR 0.45, 95% CI = 0.29-0.7, P < 0.001) and post-stroke groups (anxiety OR 0.61, 95% CI = 0.39-0.97, P < 0.001; depression OR 0.37, 95% CI = 0.25-0.55, P < 0.001) upon multivariable analyses. Increasing severity of anxiety/depression was also associated with worse perception of health status upon univariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with a previous acute CVD event, those with psychological distress have worse perception of their health status. Understanding the range of patient health perceptions can help physicians provide more patient-centered care and encourage patient behaviors that may improve both CVD and mental health outcomes.

Cardiac surgery receipt and outcomes for people using secondary mental healthcare services: Retrospective cohort study using a large mental healthcare database in South London

BACKGROUND

Patients diagnosed with mental health problems are more predisposed to cardiovascular disease, including cardiac surgery. Nevertheless, health outcomes after cardiac surgery for patients with mental health problems as a discrete group are unknown. This study examined the association between secondary care mental health service use and postoperative health outcomes following cardiac surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational research, utilizing data from a large South London mental healthcare supplier linked to national hospitalization data. OPCS-4 codes were applied to classify cardiac surgery. Health results were compared between those individuals with a mental health disorder diagnosis from secondary care and other local residents, including the length of hospital stay (LOS), inpatient mortality, and 30-day emergency hospital readmission.

RESULTS

Twelve thousand three hundred and eighty-four patients received cardiac surgery, including 1,481 with a mental disorder diagnosis. Patients with mental health diagnosis were at greater risk of emergency admissions for cardiac surgery (odds ratio [OR] 1.60; 1.43, 1.79), longer index LOS (incidence rate ratio 1.28; 1.26, 1.30), and at higher risk of 30-day emergency readmission (OR 1.53; 1.31, 1.78). Those who underwent pacemaker insertion and major open surgery had worse postoperative outcomes during index surgery hospital admission while those who had major endovascular surgery had worse health outcomes subsequent 30-day emergency hospital readmission.

CONCLUSION

People with a mental health disorder diagnosis undertaking cardiac surgery have significantly worse health outcomes. Personalized guidelines and policies to manage preoperative risk factors require consideration and evaluation.

Impact of Mental Health on General Surgery Patients and Strategies to Improve Outcomes

Mental Health Disorders (MHD) are a growing concern nationwide. The significant impact MHD have on surgical outcomes has only recently started to be understood. This literature review investigated how mental health impacts the outcomes of general surgery patients and what can be done to make improvements. Patients with schizophrenia had the poorest surgical outcomes. Mental health disorders increased post-surgical pain, hospital length of stay, complications, readmissions, and mortality. Mental health disorders decreased wound healing and quality of care. Optimizing outcomes will be best accomplished through integrating more effective perioperative screening tools and interventions. Screenings tools can incorporate artificial intelligence, MHD data, resilience and its biomarkers, and patient mental health questionnaires. Interventions include cognitive behavioral therapy, virtual reality, spirituality, pharmacology, and resilience training.