title: Meta-analysis of contemporary short- and long-term mortality rates in patients diagnosed with critical leg ischaemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Critical leg ischaemia (CLI) has been associated with high mortality rates. There is a lack of contemporary data on both short- and long-term mortality rates in patients diagnosed with CLI.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a systematic literature search for studies prospectively reporting mortality in patients diagnosed with CLI. Meta-analysis and meta-regression models were developed to determine overall mortality rates and specific patient-related factors that were associated with death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 50 studies were included in the analysis The estimated probability of all-cause mortality in patients with CLI was 3·7 per cent at 30 days, 17·5 per cent at 1 year, 35·1 per cent at 3 years and 46·2 per cent at 5 years. Men had a statistically significant survival benefit at 30 days and 3 years. The presence of ischaemic heart disease, tissue loss and older age resulted in a higher probability of death at 3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early mortality rates in patients diagnosed with CLI have improved slightly compared with previous historical data, but long-term mortality rates are still high.
authors: Department of Vascular Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors: K E
authors: KE
authors: Rollins
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Jackson
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Coughlin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000401:mortality*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis