A meta-analysis of 119,123 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) demonstrates that depressive symptoms were associated with a 24 % increased risk of all-cause mortality.
Led by Lindsey Scierka, MD, MPH, a T32 vascular outcomes research fellow with the Vascular Medicine Outcomes program, the study furthers our current understanding of the connection between PAD and mental health, the researchers suggest.
The results were published Sept. 28 in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
A lifelong Connecticut native, Scierka is dedicated to conducting impactful patient-centered outcomes research. Working in the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine has been a fantastic opportunity to see excellence in research and clinical practice in action.
As a T32 research fellow, she has explored the relationship between sex-based and psychosocial factors (including mental health, obesity, and menopause) with outcomes for patients with PAD to identify novel targets for future interventions. She was exposed to the differences in clinical presentations between men and women in the Yale Peripheral Vascular Clinic, with women often presenting at an older age with a greater mental health burden. She wanted to learn more about what potential biological and psychosocial mechanisms could be contributing to the sex-specific differences in peripheral artery disease (PAD), which has prompted her next independent research project, “Age of Menopause and Incident Peripheral Artery Disease Admissions for Women in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.”
“At this pivotal point in my career, I have been incredibly lucky to work with the Vascular Medicine Outcomes research program as the first Vascular Outcomes T32 fellow under the mentorship of Drs. Kim Smolderen and Carlos Mena-Hurtado,” said Scierka.
I hope to develop novel therapeutic interventions to address the complex biologic and psychosocial factors impacting patients to improve outcomes for individuals with vascular disease.
Lindsey Scierka, MD, MPH
“Working with them has not only provided me foundational research skills needed to conduct high-quality outcomes research, but I have also learned the importance of incorporating the patient’s perspective into each step of the research process – from project design to outcomes. This ensures that we perform truly patient-centered research, and that our results will positively impact the populations we serve.”
When she is away from the office, Scierka enjoys biking on the Farmington Canal and wine tasting at the various Connecticut vineyards. She also loves to cook for family and friends using fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farms and small businesses.
“Looking beyond traditional PAD risk factors like hypertension and smoking is critical in understanding the complex risk profiles of our patients. PAD incidence and outcomes are impacted by a variety of biological and psychosocial factors including social determinants of health, sex and gender-specific factors, and mental health comorbidities that need to be addressed in order to provide comprehensive vascular care for this vulnerable population,” she said.
“My overall aim is a career as an academic cardiologist where I can continue my work in outcomes research while providing compassionate care for patients. I hope to develop novel therapeutic interventions to address the complex biologic and psychosocial factors impacting patients to improve outcomes for individuals with vascular disease.”
In November, Scierka will be presenting three posters at the 2022 American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in November, “Health Status Profiles in Patients with New or Worsening Peripheral Artery Disease Symptoms and One-Year Hospitalization Risk,” “Comorbid Obesity in Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease: A Modifiable Factor Associated with Health Status,” and “Integrating Mental Health Screening Into A Health System For Measurement-based Care Of Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease.”