HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jude, E. B. Articles by Boulton, A. J.M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jude, E. B. Articles by Boulton, A. J.M. Social Bookmarking                What's this?

Peripheral Arterial Disease in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients

A comparison of severity and outcome

Department of Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, U.K.

	ABSTRACT

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS References

 
OBJECTIVE—The aim of this study was to quantify the distribution of peripheral arterial disease in the diabetic and nondiabetic population attending for angiography and to compare severity and outcome between both groups of patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Randomly selected lower-extremity angiograms were examined according to the Bollinger system. Patient demographics and medical history were recorded and case notes were examined to determine which patients later underwent a revascularization procedure or amputation and which patients had died.

RESULTS—A total of 136 arteriograms obtained between 1992 and 1996 were analyzed. The age (mean ± SD) of the patients was 64.7 ± 10.8 years. Diabetic patients (43%) and nondiabetic patients were of similar age (63.9 ± 10.4 vs. 65.3 ± 11.1 years, P = 0.43), with a similar history of smoking (81.0 vs. 76.9%, P = 0.26), ischemic heart disease (41.4 vs. 37.2%, P = 0.54), and hypercholesterolemia (24.4 vs. 30.8%, P = 0.48). However, there were a greater proportion of hypertensive patients in the diabetic group (63.8 vs. 39.7%, P = 0.006). Diabetic patients had greater severity of arterial disease in the profunda femoris and all arterial segments below the knee (P = 0.02). A greater number of amputations occurred in the diabetic group: diabetic patients were five times more likely to have an amputation (41.4 vs. 11.5%, odds ratio [OR] 5.4, P < 0.0001). Mortality was higher in the diabetic group (51.7 vs. 25.6%, OR 3.1, P = 0.002), and diabetic patients who died were younger at presentation than nondiabetic patients (64.7 ± 11.4 vs. 71.1 ± 8.7 years, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS—In patients with peripheral arterial disease, diabetic patients have worse arterial disease and a poorer outcome than nondiabetic patients.

Abbreviations: OR, odds ratio

	INTRODUCTION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS References

 
Peripheral arterial disease is characterized by a gradual reduction in blood flow to one or more limbs secondary to atherosclerosis (1). The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease is 2–6% for men and women younger than 50 years of age, increasing to >7% in those older than 70 years of age (2,3). Diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia are important risk factors for peripheral arterial disease (4).

Patients with peripheral arterial disease often have coexisting cerebrovascular disease and/or coronary artery disease and therefore have poor prognosis and reduced life expectancy (5,6). Coronary heart disease accounts for half of the total mortality, whereas vascular disease in general accounts for almost two-thirds of the total mortality (7). Renal artery stenosis has also been demonstrated in >40% of the patients with peripheral arterial disease (8). Peripheral arterial disease is also an important risk factor for lower-extremity amputation in diabetic patients with chronic foot ulcers (9).

Few studies have compared the severity and mortality of peripheral arterial disease among diabetic versus nondiabetic patients. Strandness et al. (10) reported that diabetic patients had more infrapopliteal disease, whereas King et al. (11) found greater involvement of the profunda femoris in diabetic patients. A recent study in the U.K. showed that the cost of revascularization procedures was more in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease (12).

The aim of this study was to quantify the distribution of peripheral arterial disease in the diabetic and nondiabetic population attending for angiography and to compare severity and outcome between both groups of patients.

	RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS References

 
Study population and procedure
The patients included in the study were those referred for peripheral angiography. From the register of 600 patients who attended for angiography in 1996, 150 patients were randomly selected. For each individual, the first angiographic examination performed between 1992 and 1996 (i.e., before any vascular or surgical intervention) was selected for analysis. Demographic data and indications for angiography are given in Table 1. Angiograms were examined by a radiologist, who was blinded to indication for angiography and diabetic status.

Patient demographics (i.e., age and sex, smoking history, and history of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, nephropathy, hypercholesterolemia, and peripheral vascular disease) were taken from the case notes. Ischemic heart disease was diagnosed if there was clinical evidence of angina, changes on electrocardiography, or history of a myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization procedure. Hypertension was defined according to the previous World Health Organization criteria (systolic blood pressure >160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure >95 mmHg) or if the patient was on current antihypertensive treatment. Nephropathy was diagnosed if a patient had microalbuminuria (20–200 µg/min), macroalbuminuria (>200 µg/min), or a serum creatinine level >140 µmol/l.

Case records were also examined to assess which of these patients later underwent revascularization procedures (vascular reconstruction, angioplasty, or stent placement), multiple revascularization procedures, or lower-extremity amputations and which patients had died during the years following their angiographic procedure (up until 1999). The level of amputation was defined as high level if proximal to the midfoot and low level if distal to the midfoot.

Statistical analysis
The two-sample t test was used to assess differences in the mean values for age and cholesterol levels. The one-tailed test for proportions was used to confirm or refute any apparent differences in proportions (e.g., demographics, medical history, vascular risk factors, revascularization procedures and amputations, etc.) between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. ² test with odds ratios (ORs) were used to determine the association between diabetes and amputations, between diabetes and mortality, and between amputation and revascularization. This test was also used to determine the associations between total arterial occlusion (Bollinger score 13) and a history of symptoms, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, amputation, and mortality. Fisher’s exact test was used as appropriate. ² test for trend (²trend) was used to determine the association between number of amputations and arterial occlusion score. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences in the arterial disease scores between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. The 95% CI was calculated as appropriate, and statistical significance was accepted when the P value was <0.05.

	RESULTS

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS References

 
Of 150 patients selected, 136 patients whose case notes could be traced were included in this study. Their age (mean ±SD) was 64.7 ± 10.8 years. A total of 58 patients (43%) had diabetes, with a duration of 13.0 ± 11.1 years. There were no significant differences in age and sex distribution, smoking history, incidence of intermittent claudication, and the duration of follow-up after angiography between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. However, although diabetic patients had more foot ulcers and gangrene than nondiabetic patients, rest pain was less common in diabetic patients. This is summarized in Table 1.

Medical history and vascular risk factors
Diabetic and nondiabetic patients had the same proportion of patients with a history of ischemic heart disease (41.4 vs. 37.2%, P = 0.62). In 105 patients (41 diabetic) with recorded cholesterol levels, there was no difference in the proportion of patients with hypercholesterolemia (24.4 vs. 30.8%, P = 0.52). There was also no difference in the mean total cholesterol levels (5.4 vs. 5.6 mmol/l, P = 0.5) between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. However, there was a greater proportion of diabetic patients with hypertension (63.8 vs. 39.7%, P = 0.006).

Arteriographic findings
The Bollinger scoring system was used to assess the distribution and severity of disease in the aorta and lower limb arteries (Table 2). A total of 111 patients (82%) had at least one completely occluded arterial segment (Bollinger score 13). There was no association between the presence of completely occluded arterial segments and the presence of symptoms (P = 0.2) or a history of ischemic heart disease (P = 0.3), hypertension (P = 0.12), or mortality (P = 0.32). Diabetic patients had greater severity of disease than nondiabetic patients in the profunda femoris, popliteal, anterior tibial, peroneal, and posterior tibial arterial segments, but there was no difference in severity of arterial disease between the aorta or the iliac and superficial femoral arterial segments.

A total of 18 patients (55%) who underwent amputation had previously undergone revascularization: 12 of these patients were diabetic. These do not all represent failures of revascularization; in some cases, revascularization was performed with the aim of limiting the extent of amputation and promoting wound healing after amputation. However, there is no clear evidence from this series that revascularization reduces the risk of amputation.

Mortality
During a mean follow-up of 4.5 years, 37% of the patients died. These patients were slightly older (67.3 vs. 63.2 years, P = 0.03) and had higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease at referral (50 vs. 33%, P < 0.05) than patients who survived. There was a significantly higher proportion of deaths in the diabetic group compared with the nondiabetic group (51.7 vs. 25.6%, OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.5–6.4, P = 0.002). Additionally, the diabetic patients who died were significantly younger than the nondiabetic group who died during the same period (64.7 ± 11.4 vs. 71.2 ± 8.7 years, P = 0.04). However, there was no difference in the proportion of revascularization procedures only (33.3 vs. 40%, P = 0.32), amputations only (30.0 vs. 15%, P = 0.11), or the proportion of patients who had both amputation and revascularization (23.3 vs. 20.0%, P = 0.39) between diabetic and nondiabetic patients who had died (Table 4).

	CONCLUSIONS

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS References

 
This study has confirmed that diabetic patients have worse peripheral arterial disease below the knee and are at higher risk of lower extremity amputation than nondiabetic patients. Diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease also had higher mortality and died at a younger age than nondiabetic patients. The profunda femoris artery was the only arterial segment above the knee that showed worse disease in diabetic patients.

Previous epidemiological studies have demonstrated poor survival in patients with peripheral arterial disease compared with the general population (6) and a higher incidence of peripheral arterial disease and poorer prognosis in diabetic patients compared with nondiabetic patients (14,15). Similar to our study, previous studies have also shown worse profunda and infrapopliteal arterial disease in diabetic patients (10,11). Faglia and colleagues also observed a positive trend between severity of arterial disease and amputation rate in diabetic patients (16), as demonstrated in this study.

We did not find any difference in the symptom of intermittent claudication between the two groups. This is similar to a previous study, which also did not report any difference in the frequency of symptoms between diabetic and nondiabetic subjects with peripheral vascular disease (17). However, in that study (17), the evidence of vascular disease was based on the presence or absence of pulses in the lower limb and not radiological assessment. It may be possible that symptoms did not occur as frequently as expected in the diabetic patients (who had worse disease) due to the presence of diabetic neuropathy, which could have masked the pain of intermittent claudication. Therefore, these patients may present later than if they had normal sensation.

Even though diabetic patients in this study had more severe arterial disease, we did not observe any difference in the rate of arterial revascularization procedures performed between both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. This could be due to a number of reasons. First, the more severe arterial disease seen below the knee in the diabetic patients may have precluded arterial reconstruction; second, the performance of extreme distal revascularization procedures, even when technically feasible, may not always be performed because of the risk of high failure rate (18).

In conclusion, this is the first study that compares angiographic findings between diabetic and nondiabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease. This study has revealed that in a group of patients referred for angiography of the lower extremity, diabetic patients have worse angiographic findings, more amputations, and higher mortality than nondiabetic patients. Furthermore, and in keeping with previous studies (19), there is no convincing evidence that revascularization is effective in preventing amputation. Additional studies are required to determine whether earlier diagnosis and intervention may prevent amputation.

	FOOTNOTES

 
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Edward Jude, MD, Department of Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, U.K. E-mail: ejude{at}dc.cmht.nwest.nhs.uk.

Received for publication 21 November 2000 and accepted in revised form 12 April 2001.

A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.

	References

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS References

 

1. Ross R: The pathogenesis of artherosclerosis: an update. N Engl J Med 314:488–500, 1986[Medline]
   
2. Fowkes FG, Housley E, Cawood EH, Macintyre CC, Ruckley CV, Prescott RJ: Edinburgh Artery Study: prevalence of asymptomatic and symptomatic peripheral arterial disease in the general population. Int J Epidemiol 20:384–392, 1991[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
3. Stoffers HE, Rinkens PE, Kester AD, Kaiser V, Knottnerus JA: The prevalence of asymptomatic and unrecognised peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Int J Epidemiol 25:282–290, 1996[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
4. Fowkes FG, Housley E, Riemersma RA, Macintyre CC, Cawood EH, Prescott RJ, Ruckley CV: Smoking, lipids, glucose intolerance, and blood pressure as risk factors for peripheral atherosclerosis compared with ischemic heart disease in the Edingburgh Artery Study. Am J Epidemiol 135:331–340, 1992[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
5. Dormandy J, Heeck L, Vig S: The natural history of claudication: risk to life and limb. Semin Vasc Surg 12:123–137, 1999[Medline]
   
6. Cheng SW, Ting AC, Lau H, Wong J: Survival in patients with chronic lower extremity ischemia: a risk factor analysis. Ann Vasc Surg 14:158–165, 2000[Medline]
   
7. Verhaeghe R: Epidemiology and prognosis of peripheral obliterative arteriopathy. Drugs 56(Suppl. 3):1–10, 1998
   
8. Missouris CG, Buckenham T, Cappuccio FP, MacGregor GA: Renal artery stenosis: a common and important problem in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Am J Med 96:10–14, 1994[Medline]
   
9. Reiber GE, Pecoraro RE, Koepsell TD: Risk factors for amputation in patients with diabetes: a case control study. Ann Intern Med 117:97–105, 1992
   
10. Strandness DE, Priest RE, Gibbons GE: Combined clinical and pathological study of diabetic and non-diabetic peripheral arterial disease. Diabetes 13:366–372, 1964
    
11. King TA, DePalma RG, Rhodes RS: Diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic involvement of the profunda femoris artery. Surg Gynecol Obstet 159:553–556, 1984[Medline]
    
12. Panayiotopoulos YP, Tyrrell MR, Arnold FJL, Korzon-Burakowska A, Amiel SA, Taylor PR: Results and cost analysis of distal (crural/pedal) arterial revascularization for limb salvage in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Diabet Med 14:214–220, 1996
    
13. Bollinger A: Semi-quantitative assessment of lower limb atherosclerosis from routine angiographic images. Atherosclerosis 38:339–346, 1981[Medline]
    
14. Pyorala K, Laakso M, Unsitupa M: Diabetes and atherosclerosis: an epidemiologic view. Diabetes Metab Rev 3:463–524, 1987[Medline]
    
15. Donahue RP, Orchard TJ: Diabetes mellitus and macrovascular complications: an epidemiological perspective. Diabetes Care 15:1141–1155, 1992[Abstract]
    
16. Faglia E, Favales F, Quarantiello A, Calia P, Clelia P, Brambilla G, Rampoldi A, Morabito A: Angiographic evaluation of peripheral arterial occlusive disease and its role as a prognostic determinant for major amputation in diabetic subjects with foot ulcers. Diabetes Care 21:625–630, 1998[Abstract]
    
17. Walters DP, Gatling W, Mullee MA, Hill RD: The prevalence, detection, and epidemiological correlates of peripheral vascular disease: a comparison of diabetic and non-diabetic subjects in an English community. Diabet Med 9:710–715, 1992[Medline]
    
18. Mercer KG, Berridge DC: Peripheral vascular disease and vascular reconstruction. In The Foot in Diabetes. 3rd ed. Boulton AJM, Connor H, Cavanagh PR, Eds. Chichester, U.K., Wiley, 2000, p. 215–234
    
19. Tunis SR, Bass EB, Steinberg EP: The use of angioplasty, bypass surgery, and amputation in the management of peripheral vascular disease. N Engl J Med 325:556–562, 1991[Abstract]
    

CiteULike

Del.icio.us

Digg

Reddit

Technorati

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W T. Cade Diabetes-Related Microvascular and Macrovascular Diseases in the Physical Therapy Setting Physical Therapy, November 1, 2008; 88(11): 1322 - 1335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P.C. Bennett, S. Silverman, P.S. Gill, and G.Y.H. Lip Ethnicity and peripheral artery disease QJM, October 23, 2008; (2008) hcn140v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Pataky, A. Golay, A. Rieker, R. Grandjean, L. Schiesari, and H. Vuagnat A First Evaluation of an Educational Program for Health Care Providers in a Long-Term Care Facility to Prevent Foot Complications International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, June 1, 2007; 6(2): 69 - 75. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Authors/Task Force Members, L. Ryden, E. Standl, M. Bartnik, G. V. d. Berghe, J. Betteridge, M.-J. de Boer, F. Cosentino, B. Jonsson, M. Laakso, et al. Guidelines on diabetes, pre-diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases: full text: The Task Force on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Eur. Heart J. Suppl., June 1, 2007; 9(suppl_C): C3 - C74. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Authors/Task Force Members, L. Ryden, E. Standl, M. Bartnik, G. Van den Berghe, J. Betteridge, M.-J. de Boer, F. Cosentino, B. Jonsson, M. Laakso, et al. Guidelines on diabetes, pre-diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases: executive summary: The Task Force on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Eur. Heart J., January 1, 2007; 28(1): 88 - 136. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. P. Marso and W. R. Hiatt Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients With Diabetes J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., March 7, 2006; 47(5): 921 - 929. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. M. Rathur and A. J. M. Boulton Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of diabetic neuropathy J Bone Joint Surg Br, December 1, 2005; 87-B(12): 1605 - 1610. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Lapeyre, H. Kobeiter, P. Desgranges, A. Rahmouni, J.-P. Becquemin, and A. Luciani Assessment of Critical Limb Ischemia in Patients with Diabetes: Comparison of MR Angiography and Digital Subtraction Angiography Am. J. Roentgenol., December 1, 2005; 185(6): 1641 - 1650. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Rajala, M. Paivansalo, M. Laakso, I. Suramo, and S. Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi Intima-media thickness and atherosclerotic plaques in popliteal, tibial, brachial and radial arteries in 65-year-old Finns with diabetes The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, September 1, 2005; 5(5): 277 - 280. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. J Collinson, R. Rea, and R. Donnelly Masterclass series in peripheral arterial disease: Vascular risk: diabetes Vascular Medicine, November 1, 2004; 9(4): 307 - 310. [PDF]

				M. Kirby and R. Gardener Review: New antiplatelet guidelines for managing peripheral arterial disease -- what are the implications for diabetes? The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, September 1, 2004; 4(5): 311 - 315. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. E. Resnick, R. S. Lindsay, M. M. McDermott, R. B. Devereux, K. L. Jones, R. R. Fabsitz, and B. V. Howard Relationship of High and Low Ankle Brachial Index to All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: The Strong Heart Study Circulation, February 17, 2004; 109(6): 733 - 739. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. F. Luscher, M. A. Creager, J. A. Beckman, and F. Cosentino Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Pathophysiology, Clinical Consequences, and Medical Therapy: Part II Circulation, September 30, 2003; 108(13): 1655 - 1661. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. H. Simpson, P. Corabian, P. Jacobs, and J. A. Johnson The cost of major comorbidity in people with diabetes mellitus Can. Med. Assoc. J., June 24, 2003; 168(13): 1661 - 1667. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-H. Tseng Prevalence and Risk Factors of Peripheral Arterial Obstructive Disease in Taiwanese Type 2 Diabetic Patients Angiology, May 1, 2003; 54(3): 331 - 338. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. N. Dang and A. J. M. Boulton Changing Perspectives in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Management International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, March 1, 2003; 2(1): 4 - 12. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. A. Beckman, M. A. Creager, and P. Libby Diabetes and Atherosclerosis: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Management JAMA, May 15, 2002; 287(19): 2570 - 2581. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jude, E. B. Articles by Boulton, A. J.M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jude, E. B. Articles by Boulton, A. J.M. Social Bookmarking                What's this?