Geographical Variation in the Management of Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease: A Nationwide Danish Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Equal access for equal needs is a key goal for many healthcare systems but geographical variation research has shown that this is often not the case in areas other than vascular surgery. This study assessed the variation across specialised vascular centres of an entire healthcare system in the costs and outcomes for patients having first time revascularisation for peripheral arterial occlusive disease. METHODS: This was a national study of all first time revascularisations performed in the Danish healthcare system between 2009 and 2014. Episodes were identified in the Danish Vascular Registry (n = 10 300) and data on one year follow up in terms of the costs of specialised healthcare (€) and amputation status were acquired from national registers. Generalised gamma and logit regressions were used to predict margins between centres while adjusting for population heterogeneity (age, sex, education, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, use of prophylactic pharmacological therapy, indication and type of revascularisation). Cost effectiveness frontiers were used to identify efficient providers and to illustrate the cost of reducing the system level risk of amputation. RESULTS: For each of the indications of chronic limb threatening and acute limb ischaemia, the one year amputation risks varied from 11% to 16% across centres (p = .003, p = .006) whereas for intermittent claudication there was no significant difference across centres. The corresponding costs of care varied across centres for all indications (p = .027, p = .028, p = .030). Linking costs and outcomes, three of seven centres were observed to provide poorer quality at higher costs. Exponentially increasing costs to obtain the maximum reduction of the amputation risk were observed. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that there is substantial variation in the clinical management of peripheral arterial occlusive disease across the Danish healthcare system and that this results in very different levels of efficiency - on top of potentially unequal treatment for equal needs. Further research is warranted.

Major Amputation Rates in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease Aged 50 Years and Over in Denmark during the period 1997-2014 and their Relationship with Demographics, Risk Factors, and Vascular Services.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this nationwide study was to provide insight into the incidence and geographical distribution of vascular services and major amputations in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Denmark. METHODS: The incidence of major amputation caused by PAD was investigated by linking data from population based healthcare and administrative databases. The study period was divided into three parts, i.e. 1997-2002, 2003-2008, and 2009-2014. Amputation rates and revascularisation rates per 100 000 inhabitants ≥ 50 years of age were calculated and the association was displayed using scatter plots. The association between amputation rates and revascularisation rates was explored using a mixed effect model. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for having amputation without prior revascularisation relative to having amputation with prior revascularisation. RESULTS: During 1997-2014, 13 075 first time major amputations were performed. The proportions of patients with diabetes as well as atherosclerotic comorbidity increased through the decades. The incidence rate decreased from 41.67 per 100 000 citizens ≥ 50 years of age in 1997-2002, to 32.53 in 2009-2014 (r = -0.88, p < .001), but with municipal differences. In parallel, revascularisations increased from 166.63 per 100 000 citizens ≥ 50 years of age in 1997-2002, to 239.05 in 2009-2014 (r = 0.83, p < .001). The percentage of patients evaluated by a vascular surgeon within a year prior to amputation increased from 23.7% to 31.3% (p < .001), while no increase in the proportion having revascularisation within a year prior to amputation was seen. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus (OR 1.28; CI 1.17-1.40), stroke (OR 1.66; CI 1.52-1.81), coronary heart disease (OR 1.25; CI 1.14-1.37), and renal disease (OR 1.31; CI 1.15-1.48) were associated with a higher risk of undergoing amputation without prior revascularisation. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of major amputations decreased, while general cardiovascular prevention and revascularisation rates increased. Despite that, few patients had revascularisation prior to amputation, leaving room for improvements.

Danish Trends in Major Amputation After Vascular Reconstruction in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease 2002-2014.

OBJECTIVE: Contemporary information on major amputations after revascularisation in Denmark is sparse. This population based national study aimed to determine outcomes following revascularisation for PAD and to identify predictors of major amputation after revascularisation, including geographical variation. METHODS: Data on patients with PAD undergoing revascularisation (endovascular, open, and hybrid procedures) from 2002 to 2014 were obtained from the Danish Vascular Registry and linked with information from population based healthcare and administrative databases. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the relationship between major amputation and the various associated factors. RESULTS: In all 25,982 first time vascular reconstructions for PAD were performed between 2002 and 2014 and major amputations were performed in 2883 (11.1%) of the patients. The total number of revascularisations increased up to 2010 and thereafter numbers decreased slightly. A trend towards endovascular revascularisation as first time revascularisation was seen (36.6% in 2002 vs. 59.0% in 2014, p < .001). Median time from first revascularisation to major amputation was 4.66 months (range 0.03-146.88 months), and 63.1% of major amputations were performed within one year following revascularisation. No change in the number of amputations performed within one year after revascularisation was found during the study (p = .251). The strongest predictor for major amputations was ulcers/gangrene (HR 8.06, CI 7.11-9.13, p < .001) at the time of revascularisation. Geographic variation for intensity of revascularisation was observed and geographic differences in amputation free survival for patients with intermittent claudication and ulcers/gangrene were found. CONCLUSION: Although more patients with PAD undergo revascularisation, one in 10 still ends up with a major amputation of the lower limb. The risk of amputation was highly associated with the severity of the vascular disease at the time of revascularisation, with ulcers/gangrene as the strongest predictor. Geographic differences in vascular treatment intensity were found, but these failed to explain the differences in risk of major amputation after revascularisation across catchment areas.

Pulse palpation is an effective method for population-based screening to exclude peripheral arterial disease.

OBJECTIVE: There is a strong association between peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and future cardiovascular events. Therefore, intensive atherosclerotic risk factor reduction is recommended for people with PAD, and early detection is essential. This study assessed whether systematic pedal pulse palpation is an effective screening method for PAD in population-based screening programs. METHODS: As part of a randomized screening project, The Viborg Vascular Screening trial, 18,681 men (mean age, 69.3 years; range, 65-74 years) participated in a screening program, which included bilateral pulse palpation and ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement. PAD was defined as ABI ≤0.9 or ≥1.4. Analysis was conducted on sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for PAD and for the number of pedal pulses. RESULTS: PAD was present in 2215 participants (12.1%). The pedal pulse palpation test was set to be positive for having PAD if one or more pulses were missing. Sensitivity was 71.7% and specificity was 72.3%. No palpable pulses were associated with a 50% chance of ABI-verified PAD or with a false finding. Four palpable pulses were associated with 5% false-negative PAD cases. CONCLUSIONS: Pedal pulse palpation is was shown to be a reliable initial screening tool for PAD in population-based programs but only when four pedal pulses were present. Therefore, ABI measurement should routinely be measured in patients with fewer than four palpable pedal pulses so cardiovascular preventive actions can be initiated if PAD is confirmed.

Patient delay is the main cause of treatment delay in acute limb ischemia: an investigation of pre- and in-hospital time delay.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of acute limb ischemia is severe, with amputation rates of up to 25% and in-hospital mortality of 9-15%. Delay in treatment increases the risk of major amputation and may be present at different stages, including patient delay, doctors´ delay and waiting time in the emergency department. It is important to identify existing problems in order to reduce time delay. The aim of this study was to collect data for patients with acute limb ischemia and to evaluate the time delay between the different events from onset of symptoms to specialist evaluation and further treatment with focus on pre-hospital and in-hospital time delays. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional cohort study including all patients suspected with acute limb ischemia who were admitted to the emergency department of a community hospital in a six months period. Temporal delay in the different phases between the time of occurrence of symptoms and completion of treatment was recorded prospectively. All patients who underwent intervention had a 30 days follow-up with regard to major amputation of the leg and survival. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients (21 men and 21 women) age 73 (20-95) years (median (range)) was identified. From onset of symptoms to first contact with a doctor the time for all patients were 24 (0-1200) hours. Thirty patients needed immediate intervention. In the group of fourteen patients who had immediate operation, the median time from vascular evaluation to revascularization was 324.5 (122-873) minutes and in the group of eight patients that went through an imaging procedure before an operation the median delay was 822 (494-1185) minutes from specialist assessment to revascularization. The median time for revascularization among four patients, who were treated with arterial thrombolysis was 5621 (1686-8376) minutes. At 30 days follow up, six patients had had the ischemic limb amputated above the ankle and four patients had died. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the largest time delay was between onset of symptoms and first contact to a medical doctor. A greater public awareness is needed, so as to facilitate urgent revascularisation and improve outcomes.