Diagnosis Of Peripheral Arterial Disease Research Articles

Diagnostic Potential of Combined Photoplethysmography and Ankle-Brachial Index in Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Duplex Ultrasonography-Based Comparative Study.

Although ankle-brachial index (ABI) and photoplethysmography (PPG) have also shown adequate sensitivity in detecting peripheral arterial disease, their diagnostic performance is less reliable in asymptomatic cases or those with high atherosclerotic cardiovascular risks. We evaluated 130 participants using ABI, PPG, and duplex ultrasonography, diagnosing 65 with peripheral arterial disease. From the PPG, we derived 2 parameters: PPG amplitude ratio of the lower-to-upper extremities (PPGratio) and the PPG amplitude of the lower extremity (PPGamp). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and the area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were calculated for PPG parameters and ABI, and their combination of both methods. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression assessed the prognostic potential of these parameters. ROC analysis revealed optimal cutoff values in diagnosing peripheral arterial disease were 0.417 for PPGratio and "58" for PPGamp. Both PPGratio and PPGamp demonstrated significantly higher sensitivities, 78.4% and 75.7%, respectively, compared with 55.9% for ABI <0.9 (P<0.05). The areas under the ROC curves of combination models, including model 1 (ABI <0.9 and PPGratio), model 2 (ABI <0.9 and PPGamp), and model 3 (ABI <0.9, PPGratio, and PPGamp), exhibited improved performance with areas under the ROC curves of 0.922, 0.922, and 0.931 (all P<0.01) compared with ABI alone (area under the ROC curve, 0.822). Additionally, the PPG parameters, both alone and combined with ABI, were associated with major adverse cardiac events and all-cause mortality after adjusting for other relevant factors. On the basis of duplex ultrasonography, combining ABI and PPG markedly improves peripheral arterial disease diagnosis in high-risk individuals compared with either method alone and provides crucial insights into major adverse cardiac events and all-cause mortality risks.

Temporal Trends and Outcomes of Peripheral Artery Disease and Critical Limb Ischemia in the United States.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a progressive, systemic atherosclerotic disease that is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and critical limb ischemia (CLI). CLI represents the most severe stage of PAD, characterized by progressive endothelial dysfunction and arterial narrowing. We hypothesized that the incidence of CLI and PAD would increase over the study period and that the rates of in-hospital mortality and major amputations among patients admitted with CLI would rise correspondingly. We utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from year 2016 to 2021 using the ICD-10-CM codes. Patients with a primary or secondary diagnoses of PAD were initially selected and subsequently hospitalization with CLI were appropriately identified. Cochran Armitage test was used to describe the trend of outcomes across the years. All statistical analyses were conducted using the software Stata version 17.0. From 2016-2021, there were 2,930,639 admissions for critical limb ischemia. 65% of these patients were over the age of 60 and 35.8% of these patients were women. Most of these individuals were white (64.7%), followed by African Americans (15.8%) and Hispanics (12.6%). In-hospital mortality rates varied by revascularization method, with hybrid revascularization showing the highest rate at 2.6%, followed by endovascular revascularization at 1.8%, and surgical revascularization at 1.6%. Additionally, hospitalization costs were highest for patients undergoing hybrid revascularization ($46,257 ± $36,417), compared to endovascular ($36,924 ± $27,945) and surgical revascularization ($35,672 ± $27,127). Endovascular revascularization rates seemed to increase while surgical revascularization rates decreased during this time period. PAD is a progressive, systemic atherosclerotic disease that is associated with an increased risk of CAD, CVD, and CLI. Our data showed that the rates of PAD and CLI hospitalizations has remained relatively stable from 2016-2021, but there seems to be a trend towards doing more revascularization via an endovascular approach as compared to a surgical approach.

Routine Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) measurement: a window into atherosclerosis and early left ventricular dysfunction in patients diagnosed with cancer

BackgroundCancer therapy is considered to cause accelerated ischemia. Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) measurement is an inexpensive, simple, available test for the early diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD); however, it is not performed routinely. We aimed to evaluate the role of routine ABI measurement for the diagnosis of PAD among patients diagnosed with cancer and whether it correlates with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.MethodsA retrospective, single-center study including patients diagnosed with cancer at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. The cohort included patients performing routine ABI and LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) echocardiography. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of PAD and whether it correlates with LV dysfunction, defined by LV GLS absolute value < 19%. The secondary composite endpoint evaluated the association between reduced ABI to LV dysfunction and all-cause mortality.ResultsAmong 226 patients, PAD was diagnosed in 14 patients (6%). We revealed a positive correlation between ABI and LV GLS (r = 0.22, p < 0.01) with a reduced mean ABI score among patients with reduced LV GLS. A reduced mean ABI was observed among the positive composite endpoint group; however, it was not statistically significant (p = 0.35).ConclusionsWe report, for the first time to our knowledge, the routine use of ABI testing among patients diagnosed with cancer. ABI showed a significant correlation to LV GLS, implying a potential tool in the early diagnosis of atherosclerosis and cardiotoxicity. Considering its low cost and availability, future prospective trials are needed to integrate its role in routine assessment.

Trends in patient characteristics and mortality among Medicare patients diagnosed with peripheral artery disease.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a well-described risk factor for mortality, but few studies have examined secular trends in mortality over time for patients with PAD. We characterized trends in mortality in patients with PAD in recent years among Medicare patients. We used Medicare claims to identify patients with a new diagnosis code for PAD between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2018 using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnosis codes. The primary outcome of interest was the 1-year all-cause age-adjusted mortality rate. Our secondary outcome was the 5-year all-cause mortality rate. Multivariable regression was used to identify factors which predict mortality at 1 year. We identified 4,373,644 patients with a new diagnosis code for PAD during the study period. Between 2006 and 2018, 1-year all-cause age-adjusted mortality declined from 12.6% to 9.9% (p < 0.001). One-year crude all-cause mortality also declined from 14.6% to 9.5% (p < 0.001). Similar results were observed for 5-year age-adjusted mortality rates (40.9% to 35.2%, p < 0.001). Factors associated with increased risk of death at 1 year included age ⩾ 85 years (hazard ratio [HR] 3.030; 95% CI 3.008-3.053) and congestive heart failure (HR 1.86; 95% CI 1.85-1.88). Patients who were regularly dispensed statins, ace-inhibitors, beta-blockers, antithrombotic agents, and anticoagulants all had lower mortality (range OR 0.36; CI 0.35-0.37 for statins to OR 0.60; CI 0.59-0.61 for anticoagulants; all p < 0.001). Among US Medicare patients diagnosed with PAD between 2006 and 2019, 1-year age-adjusted mortality declined by 2.7%. This decline in mortality among PAD patients occurred in the context of a younger mean age of diagnosis of PAD and improved cardiovascular prevention therapy.

STATINS IN DISEASES OF THE PERIPHERAL ARTERIES: ARE THE CLINICAL RECOMMENDATIONS BEING FOLLOWED?

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis and is associated with high mortality due to cardiovascular events. Since lipid-lowering therapy has proven effective in the treatment of patients with PAD, current clinical guidelines regulate statin treatment for all patients with PAD. However, in real clinical practice, the administration of statins in this category of patients is clearly insufficient. The purpose of this study was to study compliance with current clinical recommendations on the frequency of statin prescribing in various regimens among patients with PAD who sought medical help in a specialized hospital. It has been shown that in real clinical practice, the administration of statins does not comply with current clinical recommendations, and the desired low-density lipoproteins targets are not achieved in a significant number of patients. It is necessary to raise awareness among doctors of various specialties about the need for early diagnosis and treatment of PAD in accordance with clinical recommendations, especially in the absence of coronary heart disease and other atherosclerosis-associated diseases. When diagnosed with PAD, the patient should start taking statins in the most tolerable doses with the most effective drugs

Symptom Descriptors in Individuals Living With Undiagnosed Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease.

Most individuals with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) experience symptoms other than claudication and live with undiagnosed PAD yet no tools exist to detect atypical PAD symptoms. The purpose of this study was to identify discriminating PAD symptom descriptors from a community-based sample of patients with no current diagnosis of PAD. Symptoms descriptors were obtained in a sample of 22 participants with persistent lower extremity symptoms pre/post exercise. An ankle brachial index with exercise was used to classify participants as "PAD" or "No PAD." Thirteen (59%) participants had a positive ankle brachial index (<0.9, ≥20% drop postexercise, or 30 mmHg drop postexercise). Symptoms do not disappear while walking, trouble keeping up with friends/family, positive response to pain or discomfort while sitting, and pain outside of the calves and thighs were associated with a positive ankle brachial index. Atypical symptoms were common among study participants. Symptoms while sitting and symptoms outside of the calf and thigh were negatively associated with a positive ankle brachial index. More precise descriptions of symptom characteristics are needed to improve PAD symptom recognition.

Inflammatory Protein Panel: Exploring Diagnostic Insights for Peripheral Artery Disease Diagnosis in a Cross-Sectional Study.

Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant 1 (CINC-1), a cluster of differentiation 95 (CD95), fractalkine, and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1) are circulating proteins known to be involved in inflammation. While their roles have been studied in neurological conditions and cardiovascular diseases, their potential as peripheral artery disease (PAD) biomarkers remain unexplored. We conducted a cross-sectional diagnostic study using data from 476 recruited patients (164 without PAD and 312 with PAD). Plasma levels of CINC-1, CD95, fractalkine, and TIM-1 were measured at baseline. A PAD diagnosis was established at recruitment based on clinical exams and investigations, defined as an ankle-brachial index < 0.9 or toe-brachial index < 0.67 with absent/diminished pedal pulses. Using 10-fold cross-validation, we trained a random forest algorithm, incorporating clinical characteristics and biomarkers that showed differential expression in PAD versus non-PAD patients to predict a PAD diagnosis. Among the proteins tested, CINC-1, CD95, and fractalkine were elevated in PAD vs. non-PAD patients, forming a 3-biomarker panel. Our predictive model achieved an AUROC of 0.85 for a PAD diagnosis using clinical features and this 3-biomarker panel. By combining the clinical characteristics with these biomarkers, we developed an accurate predictive model for a PAD diagnosis. This algorithm can assist in PAD screening, risk stratification, and guiding clinical decisions regarding further vascular assessment, referrals, and medical/surgical management to potentially improve patient outcomes.

Long-term Outcomes of Peripheral Artery Disease In Veterans: Analysis of the PEripheral ARtery Disease Long-term Survival Study (PEARLS).

Contemporary research in peripheral artery disease (PAD) remains limited due to lack of a national registry and low accuracy of diagnosis codes to identify PAD patients in electronic health records. Leveraging a novel natural language processing (NLP) system that identifies PAD with high accuracy using ankle brachial index (ABI) and toe-brachial index (TBI) values, we created a registry of 103,748 patients with new onset PAD patients in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Study endpoints include mortality, cardiovascular (hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction or stroke) and limb events (hospitalization for critical limb ischemia or major amputation) and were identified using VA and non-VA encounters. The mean age was 70.6 years; 97.3% were males, and 18.5% self-identified as Black race. The mean ABI value was 0.78 (SD: 0.26) and the mean TBI value was 0.51 (SD: 0.19). Nearly one-third (32.4%) patients were currently smoking and 35.4% formerly smoked. Prevalence of hypertension (86.6%), heart failure (22.7%), diabetes (54.8%), renal failure (23.6%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (35.4%) was high. At 1-year, 9.4% of patients had died. The 1-year incidence of cardiovascular events was 5.6 per 100 patient-years and limb events was 4.5 per 100 patient-years. We have successfully launched a registry of >100,000 patients with a new diagnosis of PAD in the VHA, the largest integrated health system in the U.S. The ncidence of death and clinical events in our cohort is high. Ongoing studies will yield important insights regarding improving care and outcomes in this high-risk group.

Determining the Best Noninvasive Test for Peripheral Arterial Disease Diagnosis to Predict Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing in Patients Following Endovascular Revascularization.

To analyze the best noninvasive tests prognosis marker in patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) who underwent endovascular revascularization based on clinical outcomes, such as healing rate, time to heal, and free amputation survival after at least a six-month follow-up. A multicentric prospective observational study was performed with 28 participants with ischemic or neuroischemic DFU who came to the participant centers and underwent endovascular revascularization between January 2022 and March 2023. Toe systolic pressure (TP), ankle systolic pressure (AP), the ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI), the toe brachial pressure index (TBPI), transcutaneous pressure of oxygen (TcPO2), and skin perfusion pressure (SPP) were evaluated using PeriFlux 6000 System, Perimed, Sweden, before (Visit 0) and four weeks after revascularization (Visit 1). The primary clinical outcome was an evaluation of the clinical evolution of noninvasive tests comparing Visit 0 and Visit 1, estimating the sensitivity for predicting wound healing of noninvasive tests at six months following initial recruitment. After six months, 71.43% (n = 20) of DFU healed, four patients (14.3%) received major amputations, and one (3.5%) died. The two tests that best predicted wound healing after revascularization according to the ROC curve were TcPO2 and TP with sensitivities of 0.89 and 0.70 for the cut-off points of 24 mmHg and 46 mmHg, respectively. TcPO2 and TP were the two tests that best predicted wound healing in patients who underwent endovascular revascularization. Clinicians should consider the importance of the evaluation of microcirculation in the healing prognosis of patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

Current Opinion on Diagnosis of Peripheral Artery Disease in Diabetic Patients.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) prevalence and diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence are continuously increasing worldwide. The strong relationship between DM and PAD is highlighted by recent evidence. PAD diagnosis in diabetic patients is very important, particularly in patients with diabetic foot disease (DFD); however, it is often made difficult by the characteristics of such diseases. Diagnosing PAD makes it possible to identify patients at a very high cardiovascular risk who require intensive treatment in terms of risk factor modification and medical therapy. The purpose of this review is to discuss the diagnostic methods that allow for a diagnosis of PAD in diabetic patients. Non-invasive tests that address PAD diagnosis will be discussed, such as the ankle-brachial index (ABI), toe pressure (TP), and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2). Furthermore, imaging methods, such as duplex ultrasound (DUS), computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA), are described because they allow for diagnosing the anatomical localization and severity of artery stenosis or occlusion in PAD. Non-invasive tests will also be discussed in terms of their ability to assess foot perfusion. Foot perfusion assessment is crucial in the diagnosis of critical limb ischemia (CLI), the most advanced PAD stage, particularly in DFD patients. The impacts of PAD diagnosis and CLI identification in diabetic patients are clinically relevant to prevent amputation and mortality.

Peripheral arterial disease in women.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) represents one of the most frequent manifestations of atherosclerosis in men and women. In both sexes, PAD is related to classical risk factors of atherosclerosis, which are similarly distributed, but some additional factors determine differences between men and women. More frequent asymptomatic disease in women than in men and less frequent screening in women may result in a false underestimation of the prevalence of PAD in women. All these factors may cause delayed diagnosis and treatment of PAD in women. Estrogen hormones have vasoprotective properties that lower the prevalence of atherosclerosis in women of younger age. However, estrogen probably does not have a protective role against the development of cardiovascular disease in women of an older age. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) of less than one year does not appear to reduce the odds of developing PAD in postmenopausal women. It may even increase the risk of morbidity from vascular interventions. However, some studies indicated that HRT for more than one year significantly decreases the risk of PAD if administered early after the last menstruation. Also, treatment of PAD in women differs to some extent from men.

Characterization of peripheral artery disease and associations with traditional risk factors, mobility, and biomarkers in the project baseline health study

There is a dearth of research on immunophenotyping in peripheral artery disease (PAD). This study aimed to describe the baseline characteristics, immunophenotypic profile, and quality of life (QoL) of participants with PAD in the Project Baseline Health Study (PBHS). The PBHS study is a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal cohort study that collected clinical, molecular, and biometric data from participants recruited between 2017 and 2018. In this analysis, baseline demographic, clinical, mobility, QoL, and flow cytometry data were stratified by the presence of PAD (ankle brachial index [ABI] ≤0.90). Of 2,209 participants, 58 (2.6%) had lower-extremity PAD, and only 2 (3.4%) had pre-existing PAD diagnosed prior to enrollment. Comorbid smoking (29.3% vs 14%, P < .001), hypertension (54% vs 30%, P < .001), diabetes (25% vs 14%, P = .031), and at least moderate coronary calcifications (Agatston score >100: 32% vs 17%, P = .01) were significantly higher in participants with PAD than in those with normal ABIs, as were high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (5.86 vs 2.83, P < .001). After adjusting for demographic and risk factors, participants with PAD had significantly fewer circulating CD56-high natural killer cells, IgM+ memory B cells, and CD10/CD27 double-positive B cells (P < .05 for all). This study reinforces existing evidence that a large proportion of PAD without claudication may be underdiagnosed, particularly in female and Black or African American participants. We describe a novel immunophenotypic profile of participants with PAD that could represent a potential future screening or diagnostic tool to facilitate earlier diagnosis of PAD. NCT03154346, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03154346.

Optimizing ankle-brachial index measurement for peripheral arterial disease screening in mobile clinics

ObjectiveMultidisciplinary mobile clinics (MMCs) provide a robust venue to provide health care access and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) screening to underserved populations. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) can facilitate PAD diagnosis; however, traditional supine ABI measurements may be challenging technically in a mobile outreach clinic with limited infrastructure, whereas seated ABI offers technical ease. In this study, the usefulness and feasibility of performing supine ABI, seated ABI, and seated ABI with a calculation to account for seated hydrostatic pressure (seated-adjusted ABI) were compared in a mobile outreach setting. MethodsProspective data were collected from patients at five independent MMCs focused on diabetic foot and PAD screening with ABI for underserved communities. Three techniques were used to measure the ABI: seated ABI, seated-adjusted ABI using a formula to account for hydrostatic ankle pressure, and traditional supine ABI using a foldable massage table that is 5% of the cost of a medical stretcher. Comparative analysis was performed using the Student t test analysis and one-way analysis of variance. The frequency of completed seated ABI, seated-adjusted ABI, and supine ABI examinations performed at independent MMCs was quantified to determine feasibility. ResultsIn 166 individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability who were screened over the course of five MMCs, 89 underwent PAD screening with ABI. Of the patients screened, 38 patients had seated, seated-adjusted, and supine ABIs measured (43% of total number of patients undergoing any ABI measurement). PAD (ABI < 0.9) was identified in one patient using all three ABI methods. Noncompressible ABI (ABI ≥ 1.3) were identified in 32 patients (32/38 [84%]) screened with seated ABI. Of these 32 patients, 24 (75%) continued to have noncompressible ABIs using seated-adjusted ABI. Of these 24 patients, 4 (17%) continued to have noncompressible ABI using supine ABI. The average seated ABI significantly differed from supine ABI (1.34 vs 1.14; P < .0001). The average seated ABI also significantly differed from seated-adjusted ABI (1.34 vs 1.29; P = .026). The average seated-adjusted ABI significantly differed from supine ABI (1.29 vs 1.14; P = .0204). ConclusionsWe found that seated and seated-adjusted ABI are grossly inaccurate and more often lead to falsely elevated noncompressible ABI (32/38 [84%] and 24/38 [75%], respectively) compared with supine ABI (6/38 [16%]). We recommend using supine ABI on patients for PAD screening. Supine measurement is technically feasible in outreach mobile clinics using a transportable folding massage table and is a more accurate tool for PAD screening.

Advances in Vascular Imaging: A Comparative Analysis of Doppler Ultrasound and Multidetector CT for Lower Limb Peripheral Arterial Disease Diagnosis.

Background This study explores the comparison between Doppler ultrasound and multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA) in diagnosing peripheral arterial disease (PAD), emphasizing the urgent need for precise and minimally invasive methodologies in vascular medicine. PAD, stemming from atherosclerosis, manifests as reduced blood flow and symptoms, such as claudication, requiring timely and accurate diagnosis for optimal treatment outcomes. Doppler ultrasound emerges as an option, offering a non-invasive and cost-effective approach. Conversely, MDCTA provides intricate images, albeit with associated risks, such as radiation exposure and potential complications from contrast agents. This research rigorously evaluates the efficacy, safety, and cost-efficiency of these modalities, aiming to provide clinicians with valuable insights for informed decision-making, ultimately enhancing standards of patient care. Methodology In this prospective study conducted at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, 34 patients diagnosed with PAD were enrolled to compare the efficacy of duplex ultrasound and MDCTA in identifying arterial lesions. Statistical analysis comprised kappa statistics and contingency tables to evaluate the concordance between the modalities, with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) being calculated. Exclusions were made for patients with contraindications to MDCTA, those under 18 years of age, severe renal impairment, and allergies to contrast agents. This research examined the diagnostic accuracy of both imaging techniques, aiming to provide valuable insights into their effectiveness in identifying arterial lesions associated with PAD. Statistical analysis This investigation studied the efficacy of Doppler ultrasound and MDCTA in diagnosing PAD, with a particular focus on comparing the accuracy of Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) against MDCTA using sensitivity, specificity, and Cohen's kappa coefficient. Through segmental analysis, valuable insights were garnered into the diagnostic precision of DUS across various arterial segments. The results underscored the significance of DUS as a safe, cost-effective, and non-invasive alternative that complements the utility of MDCTA. This comprehensive assessment sheds light on the comparative strengths of both modalities, offering invaluable guidance for clinicians in selecting optimal diagnostic approaches for PAD assessment. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, IBM Corp., Version 24.0, Armonk, NY). Results The sensitivity of ultrasonography (USG) arterial Doppler in evaluating the supra-inguinal, femoropopliteal segments, and infrapopliteal segments was 87.5%, 100%, and 75.32%, respectively. The specificity in evaluating supra-inguinal, femoropopliteal segments, and infrapopliteal segments was 100%, 96.01%, and 83.06%, respectively. The agreement between the two modalities (USG arterial Doppler and CT angiography) obtained by Cohen's kappa analysis with respect to the aortoiliac region and femoropopliteal region was very good (0.91). For infrapopliteal vessels, it was only moderate (0.76). Conclusion Duplex ultrasound emerges as an indispensable tool in the investigation of PAD, offering safety, affordability, and non-invasiveness alongside high diagnostic accuracy and substantial concordance with MDCTA.

Leveraging the Cardiovascular Team in Peripheral Artery Disease Diagnosis: A Call to Action.

Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) involving the aortoiliac, femoropopliteal, and infrapopliteal arterial segments. PAD remains a largely underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a simple and widely available test that is key detection tool in the diagnosis of PAD and is prognostic for mortality and morbidity. The cardiovascular (CV) team is a diverse array of health care clinicians (eg, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants/associates, pharmacists, podiatrists) who have the qualifications and skills to be able to recognize when patients are at risk for PAD and perform an ABI. It is critical that the healthcare community recognize the critical role the CV team could play in improving outcomes and reducing disparities for patients with PAD.

New Horizons in Peripheral Artery Disease.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the lower limb manifestation of systemic atherosclerotic disease. PAD may initially present with symptoms of intermittent claudication, whilst chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI), the end stage of PAD, presents with rest pain and/or tissue loss. PAD is an age-related condition present in over 10% of those aged ≥65 in high-income countries. Guidelines regarding definition, diagnosis and staging of PAD and CLTI have been updated to reflect the changing patterns and presentations of disease given the increasing prevalence of diabetes. Recent research has changed guidelines on optimal medical therapy, with low-dose anticoagulant plus aspirin recommended in some patients. Recently published randomised trials highlight where bypass-first or endovascular-first approaches may be optimal in infra-inguinal disease. New techniques in endovascular surgery have increased minimally invasive options for ever more complex disease. Increasing recognition has been given to the complexity of patients with CLTI where a high prevalence of both frailty and cognitive impairment are present and a significant burden of multi-morbidity and polypharmacy. Despite advances in minimally invasive revascularisation techniques and reduction in amputation incidence, survival remains poor for many with CLTI. Shared decision-making is essential, and conservative management is often appropriate for older patients. There is emerging evidence of the benefit of specialist geriatric team input in the perioperative management of older patients undergoing surgery for CLTI. Recent UK guidelines now recommend screening for frailty, cognitive impairment and delirium in older vascular surgery patients as well as recommending all vascular surgery services have support and input from specialist geriatrics teams.

Statin Usage in Peripheral Arterial Disease Patients.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events have been shown to occur at higher frequency in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). In this study, our aim is to evaluate whether statin is being used appropriately in patients with PAD and also evaluate its usage with the number of vascular beds involved. This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed data of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PAD based on invasive or noninvasive imaging. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data collected were described using descriptive statistics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictors for the prescription of statins (HIS). High-intensity statin therapy was defined as atorvastatin ≥40 mg per day, rosuvastatin ≥20 mg per day, or simvastatin ≥80 mg per day, according to American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. We analyzed data from 166 patients who met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 63.34 years. The most common comorbidity was diabetes mellitus (DM) (68.86%). Statins were used in 82% of patients, among whom only 39% were on high-intensity statins. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) [odds ratio (OR) = 0.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.06-0.61, p = 0.005], on oral anticoagulants (OAC) (OR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.04-0.62, p = 0.008) and on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.08-0.47, p < 0.000) had lower odds of receiving lower extremity revascularization (LIS) therapy. Despite having a high risk of future adverse cardiac events, patients with PAD are less likely to receive appropriate statin therapy. Involvement of more vascular beds was associated with higher chances of initiating high-intensity statin.

Clinical Performance and Persistence on Dual Pathway Inhibition with Rivaroxaban and Aspirin in Real-World Setting.

The dual pathway inhibition (DPI) with low-dose rivaroxaban and aspirin in patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease reduces the occurrence of cardiovascular events, with no significant increase of intracranial or other critical organ bleedings. Our observational study aimed to describe the clinical performance, adherence, and persistence of DPI therapy among a real-world setting of patients with an established diagnosis of coronary artery (CAD) and/or peripheral artery disease (PAD). We prospectively included all consecutive patients with an established diagnosis of CAD and/or PAD treated with aspirin (ASA) 100 mg once daily and rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline, before starting treatment, at 1 month, and every 6 months after the study drug administration. A total of 202 consecutive patients (mean age 66 ± 10 years; male 80%) eligible to DPI therapy were included. During a mean follow-up of 664 ± 177 days, the incidence rate of major bleedings and of major adverse cardiovascular events was 0.8 and 1.1 per 100 patients/year, respectively. The adherence to pharmacological treatment was 99%. Additionally, 13.4% of patients suspended the DPI therapy during the follow-up. Minor bleedings resulted the most common cause of both temporary and permanent DPI therapy discontinuation. This observational study supports the safety of DPI with low-dose rivaroxaban and aspirin among patients with CAD and PAD in a real-world setting, showing high persistence and maximum adherence to medical treatment.

Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease and Principal Associated Risk Factors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The IDON-Peripheral Arterial Disease Study

The principal purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), as well as the principal associated risk factors, in patients registered in the IDON-PAD database. PAD is a condition characterized by the narrowing or blockage of arteries in the body’s extremities due to plaque buildup, leading to reduced blood flow and tissue ischemia. While PAD primarily affects the lower extremities, it can lead to symptoms such as intermittent claudication and, in severe cases, ulcers and amputations. Risk factors for PAD are numerous and cumulative, including smoking, age over 50, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The prevalence of PAD increases with age, with rates ranging from 2.5% in those over 50 to 60% in those over 85, varying by ethnicity and study population. Diabetic patients face a higher risk of PAD-related complications and have lower success rates with revascularization procedures. The diagnosis of PAD traditionally relied on physical examination and symptoms, but the Ankle–Brachial Index is now a standard diagnostic tool due to its non-invasive nature and reliability. In Mexico, the prevalence of PAD is estimated at 10%, with significant risk factors being the duration of diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and smoking. Notably, 70% of PAD cases are asymptomatic, emphasizing the importance of proactive screening. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PAD and associated risk factors in diabetic patients aged 40 and above. The prevalence was found to be 11.2%, with high-risk waist circumference, elevated triglycerides, positive Edinburgh questionnaire, and weak pulses as significant predictors. The detection and management of PAD in diabetic patients require a comprehensive approach, including lifestyle modifications and regular screenings. Prevention strategies should focus on controlling risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. In conclusion, PAD is a prevalent yet underdiagnosed condition in diabetic patients, necessitating proactive screening and comprehensive management to mitigate associated risks and improve patient outcomes. The principal limitation of this study is that, as it uses a cross-sectional methodology and is not an experimental study, although we can establish the prevalence of PAD as well as the associated risk factors, we cannot define causality or determine the hazard ratio for each of these factors. Special thanks to Dr. Leobardo Sauque Reyna and all participants for their contribution to this research.

Superoxide Dismutase and Clopidogrel: A Potential Role in Peripheral Arterial Disease Treatment.

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of peripheral artery disease (PAD). This study aimed to investigate the effect of clopidogrel on oxidative stress in PAD patients. Seventy subjects were divided into three groups: PAD patients before treatment (B-PAD), PAD patients after treatment with clopidogrel (A-PAD), and healthy controls. Serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and oxidized protein were measured. SOD activities were also determined. The results showed that SOD activities, and SOD specific activities were significantly decreased in PAD patients compared to healthy individuals. After treatment with clopidogrel, SOD activities, and SOD specific activities were continuously decrease in PAD patients. The SOD and oxidized protein concentrations were significantly increased in PAD patients compared to healthy individuals. After treatment with clopidogrel, the oxidized protein concentration was significantly decreased, while SOD concentration was significantly increased in PAD patients. These findings suggest that the treatment by clopidogrel stimulated the production of the enzyme but the ratio of active enzyme remained low. The decrease in oxidized protein can be explained by the treatment having antioxidant efficacy that may have compensated for the deficiency in enzyme activity and led to a decrease in oxidized protein. Additionally, the results of this study provide promising evidence that oxidative stress biomarkers including SOD concentration, T-SOD activity, Mn-SOD activity, and oxidized protein levels have potential utility in the diagnosis and management of PAD.