Long-term prognosis of diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia: a population-based cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term prognosis of critical limb ischemia (CLI) in diabetic patients.


METHODS
A total of 564 consecutive diabetic patients were hospitalized for CLI from January 1999 to December 2003; 554 were followed until December 2007.


RESULTS
The mean follow-up was 5.93 +/- 1.28 years. Peripheral angioplasty (PTA) was performed in 420 (74.5%) and bypass graft (BPG) in 117 (20.6%) patients. Neither PTA nor BPG were possible in 27 (4.9%) patients. Major amputations were performed in 74 (13.4%) patients: 34 (8.2%) in PTA, 24 (21.1%) in BPG, and 16 (59.2%) in a group that received no revascularization. Restenosis occurred in 94 patients, bypass failures in 36 patients, and recurrent ulcers in 71 patients. CLI was observed in the contralateral limb of 225 (39.9%) patients; of these, 15 (6.7%) required major amputations (rate in contralateral compared with initial limb, P = 0.007). At total of 276 (49.82%) patients died. The Cox model showed significant hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality with age (1.05 for 1 year [95% CI 1.03-1.07]), unfeasible revascularization (3.06 [1.40-6.70]), dialysis (3.00 [1.63-5.53]), cardiac disease history (1.37 [1.05-1.79]), and impaired ejection fraction (1.08 for 1% point [1.05-1.09]).


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetic patients with CLI have high risks of amputation and death. In a dedicated diabetic foot center, the major amputation, ulcer recurrence, and major contralateral limb amputation rates were low. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death, and in patients with CAD history the impaired ejection fraction is the major independent prognostic factor.
Faglia
Ezio
E
Diabetology Center, Diabetic Foot Center, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Multimedica, Sesto San Giovanni, Milano, Italy.
Clerici
Giacomo
G
Clerissi
Jacques
J
Gabrielli
Livio
L
Losa
Sergio
S
Mantero
Manuela
M
Caminiti
Maurizio
M
Curci
Vincenzo
V
Quarantiello
Antonella
A
Lupattelli
Tommaso
T
Luppattelli
Tommaso
T
Morabito
Alberto
A
D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017130:Angioplasty; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D017741:Survivors
D001786:Blood Glucose