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People in their 50s with severe peripheral artery disease (PAD) are more likely to undergo leg amputation within one to five years after emergency revascularization surgery compared to those in their 80s. This is according to a study published in July 2024 in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation.
PAD and the risks of revascularization
Peripheral artery disease is caused by narrowed arteries due to cholesterol deposits, reducing blood flow in the limbs, particularly the legs. It currently affects 10 million to 12 million adults in the U.S.
This condition can manifest as leg pain during physical activity and poses significant health risks, especially for older adults with risk factors like smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Doctors often recommend revascularization surgery to restore blood flow in areas where blood circulation has been compromised. However, recent research has highlighted the varying risks of major amputation (defined in the study as leg amputation above the ankle) and death following revascularization surgery in patients with severe peripheral artery disease.
The study
Researchers analyzed previous data from nearly 95,000 adults over 50 years old with peripheral artery disease who had revascularization surgery between 2013 and 2020 in England. The analysis projected the possibility of major limb amputation and death after revascularization.
