Gender Differences and Amputation Risk in Peripheral Artery Disease-A Single-Center Experience

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Vascular Surgery
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects both genders, with distinct clinical and therapeutic aspects influencing prognosis.
• Gender-specific knowledge in PAD management can modulate amputation risk and reduce mortality or acute vascular events.
• Optimal management strategies require understanding the nuances of PAD in men versus women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of peripheral artery disease (PAD) between genders.
• To identify gender-specific risk factors and predictors of adverse outcomes, such as amputation, in PAD patients.
• To provide insights for tailored diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in male and female PAD patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, descriptive study of 652 peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients.
• Patients were divided into two groups: 100 women and 552 men.
• Evaluation included demographics, anthropometric data, and clinical/paraclinical parameters.

Main Results:

• Men were younger, had higher BMI, and were more frequent smokers.
• Women showed higher rates of hypercholesterolemia, obesity, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease.
• Men had higher rates of coronary artery disease; both genders exhibited stenotic lesions, with smoking and inflammatory markers correlating with lesion severity and ankle-brachial index (ABI).

Conclusions:

• Clinical-paraclinical particularities in PAD differ significantly between genders.
• Identifying these differences provides valuable prognostic and therapeutic tools for clinicians.
• Tailored management based on gender-specific factors can optimize patient outcomes and reduce risks.