BACKGROUND: Recanalization of target veins after treatment of superficial venous incompetence has clinical implications and may depend on the type of intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient and procedural factors associated with truncal vein recanalization in a large study cohort using the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) Varicose Vein Registry. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review using the VQI Varicose Vein Registry from 2014 to 2018. We evaluated all procedures performed for truncal venous insufficiency. Demographic data and information about treatment modality were collected. Patients were separated into recanalization and nonrecanalization groups based on the status of the treated vein at follow-up ultrasound examination. The vein was only considered recanalized if the VQI noted complete recanalization of the target vein. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were performed as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 10,604 procedures were performed in 7403 patients. The average age was 55.9 years and 70.3% of the patients were female. Patients with recanalization were more likely to have a history of phlebitis (P < .001) and had a higher mean body mass index (30.5 vs 32., kg/m2 ; P = .006) compared with those without recanalization. There was no difference in the use of compression therapy, anticoagulation, deep venous reflux, number of pregnancies, prior deep vein thrombosis, Venous Clinical Severity Score, and clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology between patients with and without recanalization. The number of truncal veins treated per procedure was higher in the recanalization group compared with the nonrecanalization group (2.36 vs 1.88; P = .001). After multivariate logistic regression, laser ablation was associated with higher rate of recanalization compared with radiofrequency ablation (P = .017). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to use VQI based data to describe risk factors for recanalization following treatment of truncal venous reflux. The use of laser ablation for truncal veins is associated with a higher risk for recanalization compared with radiofrequency ablation. Obesity, prior phlebitis, and number of veins treated were independently associated with increased rate of recanalization.

Background

Conflicting data exist regarding changes in amputation rates in patients with ulcers because of diabetes mellitus (DM) and peripheral artery disease (PAD). This study focuses on how population-based amputation rates are changing in the current treatment era.

Methods

Using the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Patient Discharge database, all patients who underwent major nontraumatic lower extremity (LE) amputation in 2005 through 2011 were identified. Age-adjusted population-based amputation risk was determined by year. Gender and age trends in amputation risk were estimated separately for diabetes-related amputations and PAD-related amputations, treating all California residents as the population at risk.

Results

From 2005 to 2011, 32,025 qualifying amputations were performed in California. Of these, 11,896 were DM-associated (n = 1,095), PAD-associated (n = 4,335), or associated with both conditions (n = 6,466). PAD-associated amputation rates and combined PAD/DM-associated amputation rates have changed little since 2009 after decreasing substantially over the prior 5 years, but DM-associated amputation rates have continuously increased since 2005. California residents older than the age of 80 years had the most dramatic decrease in PAD-associated amputation rates from 2005 to 2011 (i.e., from 317 to 175 per million Californians). Men with PAD/DM had amputation rate 1.5 times higher than those of patients with PAD alone and 5 times higher than rates of DM patients. In women the difference between patient with PAD and PAD/DM was not seen; however, these rates were 2.5 times higher than patients with DM alone.

Conclusions

Preventable amputations associated with high-risk diseases are no longer decreasing despite continuing advances in care and education. Octogenarians with PAD represent the highest risk group for amputation, but DM-associated amputations have increased since 2005. Further research to understand treatment pathways for patient with LE wounds may shed light on pathways for amputation prevention in the future.

Moderate red wine intake has been associated with lower cardiovascular mortality, due in part to the intake of polyphenols and anthocyanins, whose content can vary from varietal and year of harvest. This study assessed the vascular effects in response to a single intake of 2015 and 2018 Zweigelt red wines from Hokkaido, Japan. Healthy men were randomly assigned to consume 240 mL each of a red wine, or a sparkling white grape juice as a control in a randomized three-arm cross-over design with a 7 day washout between arms. The augmentation index (AI; a measure of arterial stiffness) and AI at 75 beats/min (AI75), reactive hyperemia index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), and platelet reactivity were assessed at baseline and two and four hours after each beverage intake. Changes from the baseline were analyzed using a linear mixed model. Significant treatment effects (p = 0.02) were observed, with AI 13% lower after the intake of the 2015 or 2018 vintages compared to the control. Intake of the 2018 vintage reduced SBP and DBP (-4.1 mmHg and -5.6 mmHg, respectively; p = 0.02) compared to the 2015 wine and the control drink. The amount of hydroxytyrosol in the 2018 wine was almost twice the amount as in the 2015 wine, which may help explain the variable blood pressure results. Future studies exploring the vascular effects of the same red wine from different vintage years and different phenolic profiles are warranted.

Chronic wounds remain a serious burden in our health system, with limited therapeutic options available to improve healing. Approximately 2.5 million people experience chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in the U.S. alone, of which 20% develop venous leg ulcers (VLU). Venous leg ulcers (VLU) are among the most common etiologies of chronic wounds, accounting for approximately 70% of ulcers.

Objectives

Female gender has been shown to negatively affect the outcomes of surgical bypass for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We examined gender-related disparities in outcomes of endovascular PAD procedures in a large population-based study.

Methods

We used discharge data from California hospitals to identify patients who had PAD interventions during 2005 to 2009. Logistic regression was used for 12-month reintervention, and Cox proportional hazard regression was used for amputation-free survival comparisons.

Results

A total of 25 635 patients had endovascular procedures (11 389 [44.4%] women). Women were more likely than men (34.5% vs 30.1%, P < .0001) to have critical limb ischemia (CLI). Twelve-month reintervention rate in women was similar to men. Amputation-free survival was better among women than men (hazard ratio 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76-0.93, P = .0006).

Conclusion

Despite presenting more frequently with CLI, women had better amputation-free survival than men following endovascular procedures. Future research should determine whether findings favor one type of PAD treatment modality over another for women.

Background

Racial/ethnic disparities in treatment outcomes of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are well documented. Compared with non-Hispanic (NH) whites, blacks and Hispanics are more likely to undergo amputation and less likely to undergo bypass surgery for limb salvage. Endovascular procedures are being increasingly performed as first line of therapy for PAD. In this study, we examined the outcomes of endovascular PAD treatments based on race/ethnicity in a contemporary large population-based study.

Methods

We used Patient Discharge Data from California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to identify all patients over the age of 35 who underwent a lower extremity arterial intervention from 2005 to 2009. A look-back period of 5 years was used to exclude all patients with prior lower extremity arterial revascularization procedures or major amputation. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compare amputation-free survival and time to death within 365 days. Logistic regression was used for comparison of 1-month myocardial infarction, 1-month major amputation, 1-month all-cause mortality, 12-month major amputation, 12-month reintervention, and 12-month all-cause mortality rates among NH white, black, and Hispanic patients. These analyses were adjusted for age, gender, insurance status, severity of PAD, comorbidities, history of coronary artery angioplasty or bypass surgery, or history of carotid endarterectomy.

Results

Between 2005 and 2009, a total of 41,507 individuals underwent PAD interventions, 25,635 (61.7%) of whom underwent endovascular procedures. There were 17,433 (68%) NH whites, 4,417 (17.2%) Hispanics, 1,979 (7.7%) blacks, 1,163 (4.5%) Asian/Native Hawaiians, and 643 (2.5%) others in this group. There was a statistically significant difference in the amputation-free survival within 365 days among the NH white, Hispanic, and black groups (P < 0.0001); the hazard ratio for amputation within 365 days was 1.69 in Hispanics (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51-1.90, P < 0.0001) and 1.68 in blacks (95% CI 1.44-1.96, P < 0.001) compared with NH whites following endovascular procedures after adjusting for age, gender, insurance status, comorbidities, severity of PAD, history of coronary artery angioplasty or bypass surgery, or history of carotid endarterectomy. After adjusting for the aforementioned confounders, the first reintervention within 12 months was also significantly associated with race/ethnicity (P = 0.002). Odds ratio for reintervention was 1.17 in blacks (95% CI 1.06-1.30, P = 0.002) and 1.084 in Hispanics (95% CI 1.00-1.16, P = 0.04) compared with NH whites.

Conclusions

In this contemporary large population-based study, we demonstrated that even among matched cohorts Hispanics and blacks have worse amputation-free survival than NH whites following endovascular therapy. Our study also found that Hispanics and blacks are more likely to undergo lower extremity arterial reinterventions than NH whites. Further research is crucial in understanding if higher reintervention rates in Hispanics and blacks are because of more severe disease and/or poor access to proper follow-up care and optimal medical management.

BACKGROUND: Treatment for symptomatic peripheral artery disease includes lower extremity bypass surgery (LEB) and peripheral endovascular interventions (PVIs); however, limited comparative effectiveness data exist between the 2 therapies. We assessed the safety and effectiveness of LEB and PVI in patients with symptomatic claudication and critical limb ischemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a community-based clinical registry at 2 large integrated healthcare delivery systems, we compared 883 patients undergoing PVI and 975 patients undergoing LEB between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011. Rates of target lesion revascularization were greater for PVI than for LEB in patients presenting with claudication (12.3±2.7% and 19.0±3.5% at 1 and 3 years versus 5.2±2.4% and 8.3±3.1%, log-rank P<0.001) and critical limb ischemia (19.1±4.8% and 31.6±6.3% at 1 and 3 years versus 10.8±2.5% and 16.0±3.2%, log-rank P<0.001). However, in comparison with PVI, LEB was associated with increased rates of complications up to 30 days following the procedure (37.1% versus 11.9%, P<0.001). There were no differences in amputation rates between the 2 groups. Findings remained consistent in sensitivity analyses by using propensity methods to account for treatment selection. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease, in comparison with LEB, PVI was associated with fewer 30-day procedural complications, higher revascularization rates at 1 and 3 years, and no difference in subsequent amputations.