Comparison of Pre-Amputation Evaluation in Patients with and without Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) are more likely to undergo lower extremity amputation than patients with preserved kidney function. We sought to determine whether patients with CKD were less likely to receive pre-amputation care in the 1-year prior to lower extremity amputation compared to patients without CKD. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients with PAD-related lower extremity amputation between January 2014 and December 2017 using a large commercial insurance database. The primary exposure was CKD identified using billing codes and laboratory values. The primary outcomes were receipt of pre-amputation care, defined as diagnostic evaluation (ankle-brachial index, duplex ultrasound, and computed tomographic angiography), specialty care (vascular surgery, cardiology, orthopedic surgery, and podiatry), and lower extremity revascularization in the 1-year prior to amputation. We conducted separate logistic regression models to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) among patients with and without CKD. We assessed for effect modification by age, sex, Black race, and diabetes status. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We identified 8,554 patients with PAD-related amputation. In fully adjusted models, patients with CKD were more likely to receive diagnostic evaluation (aOR 1.30; 95% CI 1.17–1.44) and specialty care (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.27–1.64) in the 1-year prior to amputation. There was no difference in odds of revascularization by CKD status (aOR 1.03, 0.90–1.19). Age, sex, Black race, and diabetes status did not modify these associations. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Patients with CKD had higher odds of receiving diagnostic testing and specialty care and similar odds of lower extremity revascularization in the 1-year prior to amputation than patients without CKD. Disparities in access to pre-amputation care do not appear to explain the higher amputation rates seen among patients with CKD.