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Peripheral Artery Disease Causes More Harm to Patients than COVID-19

Mohammad Mahdi Kasiri1, Martina Mittlboek2, Giurgiana-Aura Giurgea3

  • 1Department of General Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.

Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns negatively impacted peripheral artery disease (PAD) patient care, leading to increased emergency admissions and limb amputations. Continuous care for PAD patients is crucial, even during global health crises.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges to healthcare systems globally.
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD) management requires timely and consistent interventions.
  • The impact of pandemic-related restrictions on PAD patient outcomes was unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment and outcomes of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
  • To inform strategic planning for healthcare delivery during public health emergencies.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective single-center cohort study was conducted.
  • 1210 patients with PAD were analyzed, comparing data from March-December 2020 (pandemic period) with the same period in 2019.
  • Outcomes included emergency admissions, revascularization attempts, and limb amputations.

Main Results:

  • Emergency admissions for advanced PAD significantly increased in 2020 compared to 2019 (p < 0.0098).
  • Limb amputations rose during all lockdown periods in 2020 compared to 2019 (p < 0.0003, p < 0.0004, p = 1).
  • No SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected in the studied PAD patient cohort.

Conclusions:

  • Strict lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected PAD patient care.
  • Delayed or interrupted treatment led to increased emergency admissions and limb amputations, with lasting consequences.
  • Maintaining continuous care for PAD patients during pandemics is essential to prevent adverse outcomes.

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2amputationpandemicperipheral artery diseasevascular disorders

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