Cardiovascular Reactivity And Vasculitis Experience (CRAVE)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cardiovascular Reactivity And Vasculitis Experience (CRAVE)
IRAS ID
232572
Contact name
Lorraine Harper
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This cross-sectional study aims to examine the response to acute psychological stress in patients with ANCA associated vasculitis to assess whether this is associated with fatigue and related symptoms such as depression and anxiety. To do this, we will employ a standardised psychological stress task, as the cardiovascular (blood pressure and heart rate) responses to this have been shown to consistently negatively relate to factors such as depression and anxiety, as well as blunted or low cardiovascular responses being characteristic of those who display poor physical functioning and poor self-reported health.
Participants will complete the stress task – the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), which is no more stressful than every day life events such as losing your keys. Blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored during the test. Given the overlap between these symptoms and fatigue, we hypothesise that patients with or at risk of developing fatigue will also show blunted cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress. If negative associations emerge between fatigue and reactivity, this could be a simple brief test easily applied in the clinical setting which might identify patients most in need of follow-up and support.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
18/WS/0014
Date of REC Opinion
19 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion