Critical limb ischemia and its impact on patient health preferences and quality of life-an international study

A systematic review of patient-reported outcome measures patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) causes significant morbidity with profound negative effects on health-related quality of life. As the prevalence of peripheral artery disease and diabetes continue to rise in our aging population, the public health impact of CLTI has escalated. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have become common and important measures for clinical evaluation in both clinical care and research. PROMs are important for the measurement of clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness and for shared decision-making on treatment options. However, the PROMs used to describe the experience of patients with CLTI are heterogeneous, incomplete, and lack specific applicability to the underlying disease processes and diverse populations. For example, certain PROMs exist for patients with extremity wounds, and other PROMs exist for patients with pain, and still others exist for patients with vascular disease. Despite this multiplicity of tools, no single PROM encompasses all of the components necessary to describe the experiences of patients with CLTI. This significant unmet need is evident from both published reports and contemporary large-scale clinical trials in the field. In this systematic review, we review the current use of PROMs for patients with CLTI in clinical practice and in research trials and highlight the gaps that need to be addressed to develop a unifying PROM instrument for CLTI.

Objective Outcome Measures for Trials in Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia Across 2 Decades: Analysis and Recommendations

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is prevalent and associated with morbidity and mortality. The published research concerning CLTI therapeutics is evolving. The goals of this review are to: 1) summarize the endpoints that are being used in trials assessing interventions for patients with CLTI; and 2) review gaps and discrepancies in current outcome definitions. A search was conducted of the PubMed database and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify studies published between January 2000 and March 2020 that evaluated treatment options for patients with CLTI. Meta-analyses, case series, case reports, abstracts, and expert opinion were excluded. Forty-nine studies (n = 11,667) were identified that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Most trials reported clinical outcomes (mortality, 69.4%; limb events, 87.8%; target lesion revascularization, 83.7%). Mean follow-up duration was 23.7 months. In investigational device exemption trials, total follow-up and follow-up to primary outcomes were discordant (12 months vs 6 months; P = 0.0018). Hemodynamic testing was reported in 71.4%, usually ankle-brachial index. Patency was assessed in 89.8% of trials; ultrasound was used in 65.3% and invasive angiography in 85.7%, at baseline and/or during follow-up. Wound assessment was performed in 49.0% of studies, qualitative in 28.6% and quantitative in 20.4%. Finally, quality of life assessment was performed in 55% of studies. Definitions for many outcomes varied across studies. Consensus regarding which outcomes to study, uniform definitions, and optimal methods to measure some of these outcomes are yet to be established. A comprehensive effort by all stakeholders is needed to move the field of CLTI forward.

The Controlling Nutritional Status Score is Significantly Associated with Complete Ulcer Healing in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, calculated using the serum albumin concentration, total peripheral lymphocyte count, and total cholesterol concentration, is a valuable nutritional status index. In the present study, we assessed whether the CONUT score was a significant predictor of complete ulcer healing in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI).

METHODS

In this retrospective, single center, cohort study, conducted from January 2013 to June 2018, we treated 112 limbs of 89 patients with Fontaine 4 CLI at the Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan. The primary endpoint of the study was complete ulcer healing after revascularization, and the secondary endpoint was amputation-free survival (AFS).

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time was 17.8 months. Complete ulcer healing was achieved during the follow-up period in 91 (81.2%) limbs. The median ulcer healing time was 104 days (range, 16-574 days). In multivariate analysis, improvement of lower skin perfusion pressure ratio of <1, end-stage renal disease, and high CONUT score (>4) were predictive of incomplete ulcer healing in patients with Fontaine 4 CLI. In addition, the AFS rate was significantly better in patients with a CONUT score ≤4 than in those with a CONUT score >4.

CONCLUSIONS

The CONUT score was associated with postprocedure ulcer healing and long-term limb retention in patients who underwent revascularization. The management of CLI involving ischemic foot ulcers may require ongoing consideration of nutritional status.

The burden of critical limb ischemia: a review of recent literature

Peripheral arterial disease is a chronic vascular disease characterized by impaired circulation to the lower extremities. Its most severe stage, known as critical limb ischemia (CLI), puts patients at an increased risk of cardiovascular events, amputation, and death. The objective of this literature review is to describe the burden of disease across a comprehensive set of domains—epidemiologic, clinical, humanistic, and economic—focusing on key studies published in the last decade. CLI prevalence in the United States is estimated to be approximately 2 million and is likely to rise in the coming years given trends in important risk factors such as age, diabetes, and smoking. Hospitalization for CLI patients is common and up to 60% are readmitted within 6 months. Amputation rates are unacceptably high with a disproportionate risk for certain demographic and socioeconomic groups. In addition to limb loss, CLI patients also have reduced life expectancy with mortality typically exceeding 50% by 5 years. Given the poor clinical prognosis, it is unsurprising that the quality of life burden associated with CLI is significant. Studies assessing quality of life in CLI patients have used a variety of generic and disease-specific measures and all document a substantial impact of the disease on the patient’s physical, social, and emotional health status compared to population norms. Finally, the poor clinical outcomes and increased medical resource use lead to a considerable economic burden for national health care systems. However, published cost studies are not comprehensive and, therefore, likely underestimate the true economic impact of CLI. Our summary documents a sobering assessment of CLI burden—a poor clinical prognosis translating into diminished quality of life and high costs for millions of patients. Continued prevention efforts and improved treatment strategies are the key to ameliorating the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with this disease.