Psychosocial, mental and suboptimal health measures are not affected by provision of abdominal aortic calcification imaging results: a 12-week RCT

Secondary analyses of a previously reported 12-week, single-blind, randomised controlled trial (RCT) including 240 community-dwelling older Australian men and women. Participants were provided with AAC imaging results and CVD risk-reducing educational resources (AAC+Ed, n=121) or education alone (Control+Ed, 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. Results 240 participants (mean ± SD, age 67.8 ± 5.0 years, 57.5% females) were randomised and 227 (95%) completed the study. Approximately 57% had evidence of AAC (≥1 on a 24-point scale) at baseline.

Providing AAC imaging results to older men and women did not affect psychosocial health, mental health and suboptimal health (all p>0.05) measures compared to Control+Ed. 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 was -0.84 (-2.08, 0.39).

Conclusions In older men and women, the provision of AAC results with education on CVD risk factors did not alter measures of psychosocial, mental, and suboptimal health status over 12 weeks compared to education alone. The study was registered at www.anzctr.org.au ACTRN12618001087246.