Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has been described as a rising epidemic in recent years. The majority of subjects studied in PAD literature have been male, leaving female patients an underrepresented population with regard to revascularization outcomes. The goal of our study was to determine the death rate and predictors of mortality in female patients undergoing endovascular intervention (EI) for symptomatic PAD.
Methods and results: This study was conducted as a single-center retrospective chart review of 292 female patients who underwent EI for symptomatic PAD. Patient variables including demographics and procedural data were analyzed for statistical significance with regard to mortality. Age, history of congestive heart failure (CHF), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) were found to be significant predictors of mortality on multivariable analysis. A death risk score was formulated based on the above variables, risk stratifying patients into low, medium, or high risk groups for mortality after EI. Overall, 76 patients (26%) fell into the low risk category with a mortality of 5.3%, 102 patients (35%) fell into the moderate risk with a mortality of 15.7%, and 112 patients (39%) fell into the high-risk group with a mortality of 45.5% (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions: Our study is the first of its kind to specify predictors of mortality in female patients with symptomatic PAD. This study also provides a tool to identify female PAD patients at high risk for death after EI. Finally, it highlights the effect of CKD, age, and CHF on mortality of patients with PAD.
©2011, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.