Comparison of the Pre-Established and Finally Selected Treatment Strategies for Endovascular Treatment in Femoropopliteal Artery Lesions

This study aimed to compare lower limb events associated with preplanned and finally selected treatment strategies-the validity and usefulness of the physician-chosen strategy were verified.We examined the data of 1003 patients in the registry of multicenter endovascular treatment for superficial femoral and popliteal artery disease study and prospectively enrolled patients who underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) of the femoropopliteal (FP) artery between February 2017 and June 2018 from 67 Japanese institutes. The outcome measures were major adverse limb events (MALE) and target vessel revascularization.The EVT strategies were classified into balloon angioplasty-alone (37.3%), primary stenting (26.7%), and provisional stenting (36.0%) groups. In the initial strategy analysis for the balloon angioplasty-alone, primary stenting, and provisional stenting groups, two-year rates of freedom from MALE (95% confidence interval) were 0.680 (0.620-0.732), 0.754 (0.688-0.808), and 0.798 (0.746-0.840), respectively. Additionally, the rate of MALE was significantly higher among patients in the balloon angioplasty-alone group than among those in the primary or provisional stenting groups in the initial strategy analysis (P = 0.007). Changes in treatment strategy were more frequent in the primary stenting group than in the other groups. Furthermore, the rate of MALE did not significantly differ among the three groups in the final strategy analysis (P = 0.56).Limb outcomes for the final applied strategy did not differ among the three strategies. Additionally, the physician's selection bias was mostly appropriate in the EVT of the FP artery.

Epidemiological characteristics of lower extremity arterial disease in Chinese diabetes patients at high risk: a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study

AIMS

To determine the epidemiological characteristics of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in high-risk patients and identify practical gaps in LEAD management.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study consecutively enrolled 10681 patients with type 2 diabetes from 30 hospitals across China from June 2016 to January 2017. All patients were assessed for LEAD by the Ankle-Brachial Index in conjunction with lower limb ultrasonography according to local guidelines.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 64.2 years, and the median duration of diabetes was 9.0 years. The overall prevalence of LEAD was 21.2%, with 10.6% of patients diagnosed with LEAD before enrollment and 11.8% newly diagnosed at the present visit. Patients with older age, hypertension and dyslipidemia as well as those who smoked were at higher risk of developing LEAD. Only 55.0%, 28.2%, and 42.5% of participating patients reached the guideline-recommended goals for glycemic, blood pressure, and lipid control, respectively. Anti-hypertensive agents, lipid lowering therapies, anti-platelet agents, and vasodilators were underused, especially in newly diagnosed LEAD patients (44.1%, 46.2%, 35.3%, and 31.7%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the high prevalence of LEAD, it was still found to be underdiagnosed and undertreated in Chinese diabetes patients. More efforts should be directed at encouraging awareness of early LEAD and achieving guideline-recommended goals in type 2 diabetes patients.