Abnormally High Ankle-Brachial Index is Associated with All-cause and Cardiovascular Mortality: The REGICOR Study.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical significance of a high ankle brachial index (ABI) and its relationship to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality is controversial. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between abnormally high ABI ≥ 1.4 and coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease, and all-cause mortality in a Mediterranean population without CVD. METHODS: A prospective population based cohort study of 6352 subjects was followed up for a median 6.2 years. Subjects under 35 years, with a history of CVD or an ABI < 0.9 were excluded. All CHD events (angina, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularisation), cerebrovascular events (stroke, transient ischaemic attack), and all-cause mortality were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 5679 subjects fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which 5517 (97.1%) had a normal ABI whereas 162 (2.9%) had an ABI ≥ 1.4. The profile of individuals with abnormally high ABI revealed as independent related factors age (OR = 1.0; p = .045), female sex (OR = 0.4; p < .01), diabetes (OR = 1.9; p = .02), and lower diastolic blood pressure (OR = 0.9; p < .001). During follow-up 309 (5.4%) participants presented with a CV event and 286 (5.0%) died. An ABI ≥ 1.4 was associated with a higher incidence of CV events in the univariate (HR = 1.7) but not in the multivariate survival Cox regression analysis. An ABI ≥ 1.4 was independently associated with all-cause mortality (HR = 2.0; IC 95% 1.32-2.92) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 3.1; IC 95% 1.52-6.48). CONCLUSIONS: In subjects without CVD, those with abnormally high ABI do not have a greater CV event rate than those with a normal ABI. However, there seems to be a trend towards higher mortality risk, supporting the guidelines that consider this subgroup to be a high risk population.

Efectividad a largo plazo de una política continuada de acceso vascular autógeno para hemodiálisis desde una perspectiva centrada en el paciente / Long-term efficacy of a continuous policy of autologous vascular access for haemodyalisis from a patient-centred perspective

OBJETIVO: Las guías recomiendan la realización de accesos vasculares autógenos frente a protésicos o catéteres, si bien su efectividad desde una perspectiva centrada en el paciente es poco conocida. Analizamos la efectividad de una política continuada de acceso vascular autógeno (PCAVA) en pacientes incidentes en hemodiálisis. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo, observacional, con inclusión de 130 pacientes (edad media 62,3 años; 67% hombres; 52,3% con catéter como acceso vascular inicial) incidentes en hemodiálisis entre 2006 y 2009 en nuestro centro y en quienes se aplicó una PCAVA. Análisis estadístico por intención de tratamiento (regresión de Cox). RESULTADOS: En 118 pacientes (90,8%), el primer acceso útil (PAU) fue autógeno y en 12 (9,3%), protésico. En 41 pacientes (31,5%), fue preciso más de un procedimiento para alcanzar un PAU. La probabilidad de dializarse a través de un PAU autógeno fue del 63,1 y 43,2% a 1 y 5 años, respectivamente. Durante el seguimiento (tiempo medio = 28,8 meses), 75 pacientes (57,7%) precisaron reparaciones o nuevos accesos, extendiendo la efectividad de la PCAVA al 86,5 y al 68,8%, a 1 y 5 años. La efectividad de la PCAVA disminuyó si el paciente requirió catéter inicial (HR: 3,2; p = 0,014), si hubo mayor filtrado glomerular inicial (HR: 1,1; p = 0,023), con antecedentes de accesos fallidos previos al PAU (HR: 3.9; p = 0,001) y en mujeres (HR: 2; p = 0,077). CONCLUSIONES: La efectividad a largo plazo de una PCAVA es elevada. Sin embargo, el porcentaje de pacientes que requieren diversos procedimientos para alcanzar un PAU y la necesidad de reintervenciones manifiestan la necesidad de optimizar la evaluación preoperatoria y el seguimiento posterior

OBJECTIVE: The guidelines recommend performing autologous vascular access rather than catheters or prosthetic grafts. An analysis is performed on the long-term effectiveness of a continued policy of priority autologous vascular access (CPAVA) in incident haemodialysis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective and observational study was conducted on 130 patients (mean age 62.3 years, 67% male), of whom 52.3% had a catheter as initial vascular access, and who started chronic haemodialysis between 2006-2009 in our centre and in whom a CPAVA was applied. Statistical analysis by intention to treat using Cox regression. RESULTS: The first useful access (FUA) was autogenous in 118 patients (90.8%), and prosthetic in 12 (9.3%). More than one procedure was necessary to achieve a FUA in 41 (31.5%) patients. The probability of maintaining the dialysis throughout the FUA was 63.1 and 43.2%, at 1 and 5 years, respectively. During follow-up (mean = 28.8 months), 75 patients (57.7%) required repairs or new accesses, extending the effectiveness of CPAVA to 86.5 and 68.8%, at 1 and 5 years, respectively. The effectiveness decreased if the patient required an initial catheter (HR: 3.2, P = .014), had higher initial glomerular filtration rates (HR: 1.1; P=.023), history of failed access before the FUA (HR: 3.9, P=.001), and in women (HR: 2, P =.077). CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of a CPAVA is high. However, a third of patients require more than one procedure to achieve FUA. Several factors adversely affect the outcome of autogenous vascular access, showing the need for optimising the preoperative evaluation and follow-up

Peripheral Arterial Disease Incidence and Associated Risk Factors in a Mediterranean Population-based Cohort. The REGICOR Study.

OBJECTIVES: The reported incidence of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Western countries ranges between 530 and 2,380 per 100,000 person years. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of PAD and identify associated risk factors in a Mediterranean population. METHODS: Cardiovascular risk factors, the Edinburgh questionnaire, and ankle brachial index (ABI) were collected from 5,434 individuals, aged 35-79 years, from a population based cohort study at baseline and after a mean of 5.7 years follow up. PAD was defined as ABI <0.9 or a clinical diagnosis during follow up. Logistic and regression tree analyses were used to identify factors associated with PAD. RESULTS: In total, 118 new cases of confirmed PAD were identified. The cumulative population incidence rate of PAD was 377 cases per 100,000 person years. For symptomatic PAD, this figure was 102 per 100,000 person years. The most important risk factors for PAD were current (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.27-4.16) or former smoking (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.19-3.43), diabetes (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.17-2.72), age (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.02-1.07), history of cardiovascular disease (OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.22-3.51), triglycerides level (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.07-2.29), and systolic blood pressure (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.03). In the population ≤65 years the most relevant risk factor was diabetes, whereas in those >65 years smoking was the leading factor. Long-term uncontrolled diabetes was the strongest risk factor for PAD (OR 10.14; 95% CI 3.57-28.79). CONCLUSION: The incidence of lower extremity PAD is lower in the Mediterranean area than has been reported for other areas. The data suggest that patients with long-term uncontrolled diabetes and former and current smokers older than 65 years should be considered for PAD screening.

Anemia Increases Mortality After Open or Endovascular Treatment in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia: A Retrospective Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Pre-operative anemia has been associated with increased post-operative morbidity and mortality in elective cardiac surgery, but its association with post-operative mortality after open or endovascular surgery for critical limb ischemia (CLI) is not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pre-operative anemia and mortality in surgery for CLI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 403 consecutive patients (mean age = 73; 73% male) undergoing open (n = 191, 47%) or endovascular (n = 212, 53%) surgery for CLI between 2005 and 2013 was performed. Neither redo revascularization procedures (ipsilateral or contralateral) nor acute limb ischemia patients were included as new cases. RESULTS: The best cut off (receiver operating characteristic curve) that related pre-operative hemoglobin to mortality was 10 g/dL. The immediate (in hospital or < 30 days) mortality rate was 8% (32 patients), with no significant differences between open and endovascular surgery. Patients with a pre-operative hemoglobin <10 g/dl had a higher immediate mortality rate (17.7% vs. 5.1%), with a risk (OR), adjusted by age and prior myocardial infarction, of 3.9, 95% CI 1.8-8.4 (p = 0.001). The mean follow up of the cohort was 30 months (97% complete). Similarly, a pre-operative hemoglobin <10 g/dL was significantly associated with a lower 1 year (55 vs. 83%) and 5 year survival rate (21 vs. 53%) with an associated risk (HR) of 2.5, 95% CI 1.8-3.4 (p < 0.001) adjusted by age, previous myocardial infarction, chronic renal failure, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative anemia is a risk factor for immediate and late mortality among patients with CLI, regardless of other risk factors and the type of revascularization technique. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the potential effect of its treatment on survival outcomes.

Adding low ankle brachial index to classical risk factors improves the prediction of major cardiovascular events. The REGICOR study.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular risk estimation is a key element of current primary prevention strategies, despite its limited accuracy. Several biomarkers are being tested to assess their capacity to improve coronary (CHD) and cardiovascular (CVD) prediction. One of these biomarkers is ankle brachial index (ABI). The aim of this study was to assess whether the inclusion of ABI improved the predictive capacity of the Framingham-REGICOR risk function in an area of low CVD incidence. METHODS: A total of 5248 individuals, aged 35-74 years, from a prospective population-based cohort study were followed up for a median 5.9 years. Baseline ABI was measured using a standardized method. All incident CHD (angina, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, CHD death) and CVD (also including fatal and non-fatal stroke) events were recorded. Improvements in discrimination (ΔC-statistics) and reclassification by net reclassification index (NRI) were assessed. RESULTS: During follow-up, 111 and 64 subjects presented with a coronary or cerebrovascular event. Pathological ABI (≤0.9) was associated with increased CHD and CVD risk (HR: 2.08 and HR: 2.24, respectively; p-value<0.001). Including ABI in the Framingham-REGICOR function improved both its discrimination and its reclassification capacity for CVD events but not for CHD events; the ΔC-statistic for CVD events was 0.007 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.001; 0.017) and the NRI was 0.029 (95% CI: 0.014-0.045; p-value<0.001). CONCLUSION: Inclusion of the ABI improves the predictive capacity of the Framingham-REGICOR risk function. The study results indicate the potential value of including this simple test in cardiovascular risk stratification and support current guidelines recommendations.