Key result
Peripheral arterial disease carries a ~27% pooled prevalence of depression and ~44% prevalence of anxiety.
Why the study?
Although emerging evidence suggests depression and anxiety are more common in individuals with PAD, psychological assessment is not routinely integrated into care, and no prior systematic review and meta-analysis had quantified their prevalence and associated risk factors.
Meta-Analysis (n=673,108)
Yes
This first systematic review and meta-analysis of both depression and anxiety in PAD demonstrates that these conditions affect approximately one in three patients, supporting the integration of routine psychological screening into PAD clinical care, particularly for those undergoing amputation or with reduced physical activity.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
High prevalence of depression and anxiety in PAD merits clinical attention; extends prevalence data but leaves screening efficacy open.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects over 200 million people worldwide and causes substantial functional impairment. Emerging evidence suggests that depression and anxiety are more common among individuals with PAD, yet psychological assessment is not routinely integrated into clinical care. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the prevalence of depression and anxiety in individuals with PAD while evaluating for associated prognostic factors. This study was done in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (Reference: CRD420251248973). A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and PsycINFO for studies that assessed the prevalence of depression and anxiety in individuals with PAD. Primary analysis utilised random effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions. 21 studies involving 673,108 individuals with PAD were included. Among these individuals, the pooled prevalence of depression was 27% (95%CI: 20–36) and that of anxiety was 44% (95%CI: 17–75); after excluding possible outliers in our sensitivity analyses, the prevalence estimates were 30% (95%CI: 26–36) for depression and 29% (95%CI: 29–29) for anxiety. Systematic review found that amputation, reduced physical activity levels and lower education levels were significant risk factors for depression. Depression and anxiety are common in individuals with PAD, affecting about one in three. These findings support integrating routine psychological screening into PAD care, especially for high-risk groups. Further large cohort studies are needed to clarify causality and assess whether targeted interventions improve mental health outcomes.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Low et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (n=673,108). Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was evaluated on Pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety (Pooled prevalence 27% for depression; 44% for anxiety, 95% CI 20-36). Peripheral arterial disease was associated with a pooled prevalence of 27% for depression and 44% for anxiety across 21 studies.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: