Control of modifiable risk factors and major adverse cardiovascular events in people with peripheral artery disease and diabetes

BACKGROUND People with diabetes and peripheral artery disease(PAD)have a high risk of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE).Prior research suggests that medical therapies aimed to control modifiable risk factors are poorly implemented in patients with PAD.AIM To examine the association between the control of modifiable risk factors,estimated by the novel PAD-medical score,and the incidence of MACE in people with PAD and diabetes.METHODS Participants were recruited from out-patient clinics if they had a diagnosis of both PAD and diabetes.Control of reversible risk factors was assessed by a new composite measure,the PAD-medical score.This score takes into account the control of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,blood pressure,blood glucose,smoking and prescription of an anti-platelet.Participants were followed to record incidence of myocardial infarction,stroke and cardiovascular death(MACE).The association of PAD-medical score with MACE was assessed using Cox proportional hazard analyses adjusting for age,sex and prior history of ischemic heart disease and stroke.RESULTS Between 2002 and 2020,a total of 424 participants with carotid artery disease(n=63),aortic or peripheral aneurysm(n=121)or lower limb ischemia(n=240)were prospectively recruited,and followed for a median duration(inter-quartile range)of 2.0(0.2–4.4)years.Only 33(7.8%)participants had the optimal PAD-medical score of five,with 318(75%)scoring at least three out of five.There were 89(21.0%)participants that had at least one MACE during the follow-up period.A one-unit higher PAD-medical score was associated with lower risk of MACE(HR=0.79,95%CI:0.63-0.98)after adjusting for other risk factors.CONCLUSION The PAD-medical score provides a simple way to assess the control of modifiable risk factors targeted by medical management aimed to reduce the incidence of MACE.

Experience with Thoracic Aortic Stent-Grafting at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital: Outcomes from the First Decade

Objectives: To describe thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) outcomes at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital between 2001-2010. Design: Prospective cohort study. Results: We successfully treated 95 of 97 patients for a 98% procedural success rate. Of the treated patients, 68 (72%) were males and mean age was 61 ± 17 years. Average follow up was 3.6 ± 2.0 years. Pathologies treated were: dissection (n = 35), aneurysmal disease (n = 32), traumatic disease (n = 19), coarctation (n = 5) and miscellaneous (n = 4). There was one peri-procedural myocardial infarction. Renal complications occurred in 7 patients (3 with doubling creatinine and 4 requiring temporary renal replacement therapy). Stroke occurred in 2 patients and paresis in 2 patients (permanent in one). Six patients died during index hospitalization and 17 deaths occurred during follow-up, 2 of which were confirmed secondary to aortic pathology. Age (HR 1.08 per year, p < 0.01) and ASA class (HR 2.2 per class, p = 0.02) were independently associated with mortality. There were 25 re-interventions in 22 patients. Eighteen of these re-interventions in 16 patients were related to the management of complications of TEVAR of which 13 were for endoleaks;eight type I, four type II, one type III. Conclusion: TEVAR can be used to treat thoracic aortic pathology but questions remain regarding long-term durability.