Epidemiology of lower extremity peripheral artery disease in veterans.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology, clinical features, outcomes, and predictors of mortality in veterans with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Methods

We used national data from the Veterans Health Administration from fiscal years 2009 to 2011 to identify patients with a new diagnosis of PAD. Within this cohort, we describe characteristics of the patients, use of recommended medications, and clinical outcomes during a 3-year follow-up (fiscal year 2014). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to examine predictors of mortality and adverse limb outcomes (amputation and hospitalization for critical limb ischemia [CLI]) during follow-up.

Results

A total of 175,865 patients with a new diagnosis of PAD were included. The mean age wa

SUBMITTER: Willey J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6132057 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature