Psychosocial, Mental, and Suboptimal Health Measures Are Not Affected by Provision of Abdominal Aortic Calcification Imaging Results: A 12-Week RCT

The provision of abdominal aortic calcification imaging results can elicit cardiovascular disease risk-reducing behaviors. However, its impact on psychosocial, mental, and suboptimal health measures is less clear. Secondary analyses of a previously reported 12-week, single-blind RCT including 240 community-dwelling older Australian males and females were conducted. Participants were provided with abdominal aortic calcification imaging results and cardiovascular disease risk-reducing educational resources (abdominal aortic calcification+education, n=121) or education alone (control+education, n=119). Psychosocial distress, mental health score, and suboptimal health status were estimated using validated questionnaires. Linear mixed models were used to compare changes between groups across 12 weeks. A total of 240 participants (mean±SD age=67.8±5.0 years; 57.5% female) were randomized, and 227 (95%) completed the study. Approximately 57% had evidence of abdominal aortic calcification (≥1 on a 24-point scale) at baseline. Providing abdominal aortic calcification imaging results to older males and females did not affect psychosocial health, mental health, and suboptimal health measures compared with control+education (all p>0.05). The mean net differences for change (95% CI) for depression, anxiety, and stress were -0.50 (-1.42, 0.42), -0.20 (-0.81, 0.41), and -0.21 (-1.18, 0.76), respectively; the mean net difference for change (95% CI) for mental health component score was 1.69 (-1.29, 4.67), and for total suboptimal health status, it was -0.84 (-2.08, 0.39). In older males and females, the provision of abdominal aortic calcification, along with education on cardiovascular disease risk factors, did not alter measures of psychosocial, mental, and suboptimal health status over 12 weeks compared with the provision of education alone. The study was registered at www.anzctr.org.au ACTRN12618001087246.