Complex relationship of body mass index with mortality in patients with critical limb ischemia undergoing

N Murata1, Y Soga1, O Iida2

  • 1Kokura Memorial Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Insights

Patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT) who are underweight have a significantly poorer prognosis. Overweight or obese patients with CLI demonstrated better survival rates post-EVT compared to normal weight individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Clinical Outcomes Research

Background:

  • Critical limb ischemia (CLI) poses a significant threat to limb and life.
  • Endovascular treatment (EVT) is a primary revascularization strategy for CLI.
  • The impact of body mass index (BMI) on long-term outcomes after EVT for CLI remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between BMI categories and long-term survival and limb salvage in patients with CLI.
  • To identify prognostic factors influencing outcomes in CLI patients treated with EVT.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective multicenter study analyzed 1088 patients with CLI who underwent EVT for infrapopliteal lesions.
  • Patients were stratified into underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), and overweight/obese (BMI >25.0 kg/m2) groups.
  • Primary endpoints included overall survival and freedom from major adverse limb events (MALE).

Main Results:

  • Three-year overall survival was significantly lower in underweight (33.3%) and higher in overweight/obese (69.8%) patients compared to normal weight (61.2%) individuals (p < .0001).
  • Freedom from MALE did not significantly differ across BMI groups (p = .32).
  • Independent predictors of poor survival included low BMI, heart failure, renal failure, and Rutherford 6 classification.

Conclusions:

  • BMI exhibits a complex relationship with mortality in CLI patients post-EVT.
  • Underweight status is an independent predictor of extremely poor prognosis in this population.
  • Overweight/obesity may be associated with improved survival compared to normal weight in CLI patients undergoing EVT.
Abstract