Disease-Based Assessment of Peripheral Vascular Disease in Nursing Facility Patients

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and selected related conditions in patients in a nursing facility, to determine the frequency of patients with risk factor(s) for or clinical evidence of PVD but without a diagnosis of PVD or a related condition, and to determine the frequency with which patients with and without a diagnosis of PVD or a related condition were treated with drug and nondrug therapies. Design: A multicenter, disease-based, retrospective evaluation. Settings: 41 nursing facilities in 6 regions of the US. Patients: 4038 patients in a nursing facility: 827 patients with a PVD or related diagnosis; 2719 patients without a PVD or related diagnosis but with risk factor(s) for or clinical evidence of PVD; and 492 patients without a PVD or related diagnosis, risk factor(s), and clinical evidence. Main Outcome Measures: Evidence of disease and drug therapy for PVD. Results: PVD was documented in 21% of patients; another 67% had risk factor(s) for or clinical evidence of PVD but no diagnosis of PVD or a related condition. Pentoxifylline was prescribed for 3% of the total sample and 12% of patients with PVD or a related condition. Conclusions: PVD appears to be inadequately evaluated in patients in a nursing facility. Disease treatment strategies should be developed and implemented to educate healthcare professionals and the general public about the need to acknowledge, assess, and treat PVD and related conditions.