Disease-based assessment of peripheral vascular disease in nursing facility patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and selected related conditions in patients in a nursing facility, to determine the frequency of patients with risk factor(s) for or clinical evidence of PVD but without a diagnosis of PVD or a related condition, and to determine the frequency with which patients with and without a diagnosis of PVD or a related condition were treated with drug and nondrug therapies.


METHODS
A multicenter, disease-based, retrospective evaluation.


METHODS
41 nursing facilities in 6 regions of the US.


METHODS
4038 patients in a nursing facility: 827 patients with a PVD or related diagnosis; 2719 patients without a PVD or related diagnosis but with risk factor(s) for or clinical evidence of PVD; and 492 patients without a PVD or related diagnosis, risk factor(s), and clinical evidence.


METHODS
Evidence of disease and drug therapy for PVD.


RESULTS
PVD was documented in 21% of patients; another 67% had risk factor(s) for or clinical evidence of PVD but no diagnosis of PVD or a related condition. Pentoxifylline was prescribed for 3% of the total sample and 12% of patients with PVD or a related condition.


CONCLUSIONS
PVD appears to be inadequately evaluated in patients in a nursing facility. Disease treatment strategies should be developed and implemented to educate healthcare professionals and the general public about the need to acknowledge, assess, and treat PVD and related conditions.
Gonzalez
E R
ER
Center for Long Term Care Research & Education, Chesapeake, VA 23321, USA.
Liberto
R B
RB
Davidson
H E
HE
Chamberlain
T M
TM
Mendelson
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline