Management of claudicants with low toe-brachial index in a Veteran population

Abstract

Introduction Intermittent claudication includes a wide spectrum of peripheral artery disease ranging from asymptomatic with reduced perfusion to lifestyle-limiting atherosclerotic disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the management of claudicants with a low toe-brachial index (TBI). Methods This study was a retrospective review of consecutive patients that presented in 2015 with claudication and a low TBI (<0.6) monitored over 5 years. The patient demographics, co-morbidities, and vascular-related characteristics (ankle-brachial index, TBI, calcified vessels, and wounds) were collected. The patients were separated into two cohorts: diabetics and non-diabetics. The outcomes included progression to chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI), interventions (endovascular or open), minor amputations, major amputations, and mortality. Results A total of 184 patients with 356 limbs were identified as claudicants with a low TBI, and there were 103 diabetics with 81 non-diabetics. The ABI and TBI were similar between the diabetics and non-diabetics, but the diabetics had a significantly higher number of calcified vessels ( p < .001) and progression to CLTI ( p < .001). The time to revascularization and number of patients that had a revascularization procedure were similar between the two groups, and nearly half of the revascularization procedures were performed within the first 6 months. The major amputation rate trended higher in the diabetic population, and there was a statistically significantly higher rate of minor amputations in the diabetics over the 5 years (Log-rank, p < .001). There was no difference in 5-year survival between diabetics and non-diabetics, and the overall 5-year mortality was 34%. Conclusion Patients presenting with claudication and low TBI, especially with diabetes, are at a higher risk to develop chronic limb threatening ischemia. Claudicants with a low TBI should have closer follow-up and more aggressive risk factor modification to reduce long-term mortality.