Gender peculiarities of critical lower limb ischemia

Nikolay I. Glushkov; Глушков Николай Иванович; Nikolay I. Glushkov; Petr D. Puzdriak; Пуздряк Петр Дмитриевич; Petr D. Puzdriak; Anastasia N. Agurbash; Агурбаш Анастасия Николаевна; Anastasia N. Agurbash; Anatoly V. Razepin; Разепин Анатолий Васильевич; Anatoly V. Razepin; Mikhail A. Ivanov; Иванов Михаил Анатольевич; Mikhail A. Ivanov

doi:10.17816/mechnikov97149

Gender peculiarities of critical lower limb ischemia

Authors: Glushkov N.I.¹, Puzdriak P.D.¹, Agurbash A.N.¹, Razepin A.V.¹, Ivanov M.A.¹
Affiliations:
1. North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
Issue: Vol 13, No 4 (2021)
Pages: 47-52
Section: Original research
URL: https://journals.eco-vector.com/vszgmu/article/view/97149
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/mechnikov97149

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Development of critical ischemia of lower limbs in patients with atherosclerosis causes negative consequences due to the high probability of detecting multilevel changes, as well as identifying coronary and carotid pools.

АIM: The aim of the study was to investigate gender differences in critical lower limb ischemia of atherosclerotic genesis following reconstructive interventions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Arterial reconstructions have been performed in 261 patients with peripheral atherosclerosis (95 women and 166 men). The specific features of reconstructive interventions have been taken into account; complications and the number of amputations have been analyzed in the early period.

RESULTS: Higher pulse pressure has been registered in the female group; tibial arteries have been affected significantly more frequently (p < 0,05). Thrombosis of the operated segment has been observed more frequently in the male patients at the stage of critical ischemia; in the case of claudication the complications were sporadic.

CONCLUSIONS: The best results of reconstructive care in men and women with peripheral atherosclerosis at the claudication stage determine the vector of active tactics in the absence of conservative treatment results.

Keywords

peripheral atherosclerosis, critical ischemia, gender differences

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BACKGROUND

The incidence of peripheral arterial disease of atherosclerotic origin is comparable to the incidence of malignant neoplasms [1]. Critical limb ischemia (CLI) in patients with atherosclerosis results in negative consequences due to the high probability of multilevel changes and damage to the coronary and carotid systems [2].

The need for reconstructive intervention on several segments does not coincide with the concept of minimally invasive interventions performed on patients with critical ischemia [3]. Patients with claudication are afraid of angiosurgery, even if conservative therapy is ineffective [4]. In women, CLI often occurs without traditional intermittent claudication, reducing the time for medical decisions [5]. Thus far, no risk factors for the complicated course of multilevel peripheral arterial disease with the development of CLI in patients of different genders have been identified.

The study aimed to analyze the gender characteristics of CLI of atherosclerotic genesis based on reconstructive intervention results.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The work was based on the follow-up of 261 patients with multilevel atherosclerotic lesions of the vessels of the lower extremities. Ninety-five female patients comprised the main group (81 with CLI and 14 with claudication). The control group included 166 men (123 with CLI and 43 with Fontaine–Pokrovsky grade IIb ischemia). All patients underwent reconstructive interventions, the results of which were analyzed in the early stages. During the first 30 days after surgery, the incidence of thrombosis of the operated segment, postoperative bleeding, the number of infectious complications and amputations, and the incidence of cerebrovascular accidents were recorded. The aspects of comorbid conditions in men and women, variants of atherosclerotic lesions according to TASC-II, and types of interventions were studied.

Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed when the glycated hemoglobin level was >6.5% or when the patient received appropriate treatment. Arterial hypertension was analyzed according to the recommendations of the international classification (American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Hypertension Guidelines, 2017). Chronic kidney disease was diagnosed based on the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (2013) guidelines. Chronic heart failure was analyzed according to the New York Heart Association classification (1964). The diagnosis of postinfarction cardiosclerosis was established in the presence of a history of myocardial infarction and cicatricial changes on the electrocardiogram.

The characteristics of the operated patients are presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Characteristics of the operated patients

Таблица 1. Характеристика оперированных больных

Indicators	Women	Men	р
Age, years	71.1 ± 9.5	63.2 ± 8.9	р < 0.05
Mean systolic pressure, mmHg	140 (130; 160)	140 (130; 150)	р < 0.05
Pulse pressure, mmHg	62.4 ± 16.6	55.6 ± 11.7	р < 0.05
Smoking, n (%)	18 (22.2)	57 (46.3)	р < 0.05
Grade II/III arterial hypertension, n (%)	88 (93.0)	152 (92.0)	No significant differences
Grade II/III chronic heart failure, n (%)	27 (28.4)	25 (15.0)	р < 0.05
Grade II/III angina, n (%)	35 (37.0)	55 (33.0)	No significant differences
Postinfarction cardiosclerosis, n (%)	20 (21.0)	21 (12.6)	р < 0.05

The characteristics of vascular bed lesions according to TASC-II and options for interventions are presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Characteristics of the variants of atherosclerotic lesions and types of surgical interventions

Таблица 2. Характеристика вариантов атеросклеротического поражения и разновидностей оперативных воздействий

Indicators	Women	Men	р
Damage to the femoropopliteal segment type C/D according to ТАSС-II, n (%)	57 (60)	104 (63)	No significant differences
Damage to the tibial segment, n (%)	14 (15)	10 (6)	р < 0.05
Type of intervention
Bypass, n (%)	19 (20)	47 (21)	No significant differences
Endarterectomy, n (%)	45 (47)	82 (49)	No significant differences
Endovascular, n (%)	32 (33.7)	33 (19.9)	р < 0.05

The statistical processing of the results was performed using the Statistica 10 data analysis package. The quantitative characteristics are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. The qualitative characteristics were presented as the relative frequencies and expressed as percentages. The significance of the distribution of qualitative characteristics was determined using the χ² test. Differences between the groups were considered significant at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The expected differences in the age of the operated patients were revealed as well as the later development of ischemia in female patients. The duration of critical ischemia before surgical treatment was longer in female patients (77.7% of the patients operated on 1 month after the onset of CLI symptoms versus 48% in male patients). In CLI development in men and women, an unequal role was played by increased pulse pressure. Significantly higher pulse pressure was noted in female patients (p < 0.05). In CLI patients, chronic heart failure, postinfarction cardiosclerosis, and abdominal obesity were more often recorded than in the control group (p < 0.05). Female atherosclerosis was characterized by lesions of the tibial segment, which affected the frequency of endovascular revascularization (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Differences in the incidence of tibial segment involvement and needs for endovascular care in the study groups

Рис. 1. Различия в частоте поражения тибиального сегмента и потребности в эндоваскулярной помощи в исследуемых группах

The amount of surgical blood loss was greater in the control group, which was associated with the predominance of conventional suprainguinal reconstructions in men (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. The value of perioperative blood loss in the analysis groups

Рис. 2. Величина периоперационной кровопотери в анализируемых группах

A comparative analysis of early postoperative complications showed different results in patients with critical ischemia and claudication (Table 3).

Table 3. Early postoperative complications and amputations

Таблица 3. Ранние послеоперационные осложнения и ампутации

Indicators	Women, n (%)	Men, n (%)	р
Thrombosis of the operated segment
CLI	17 (17.9)	38 (22.9)	р < 0.05
Claudication	–	1 (2.3)	No significant differences
Surgical area infection
CLI	10 (12.3)	19 (15.4)	No significant differences
Claudication	–	1 (2.3)	No significant differences
Amputation
CLI	10 (12.3)	13 (10.5)	No significant differences
Claudication	–	–	No significant differences

Note. CLI — critical limb ischemia.

Thrombosis of the operated segment was most often registered in men at the CLI stage. The minimum number of complications was recorded in patients with claudication (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. The frequency of thrombosis of the operated segment in the analyzed groups against the background of critical ischemia of the lower extremities and claudication. CLI — critical lower limb ischemia

Рис. 3. Частота тромбоза оперированного сегмента в анализируемых группах на фоне критической ишемии нижних конечностей и клаудикации. CLI — критическая ишемия нижних конечностей

There were no significant gender differences in the analyzed groups in terms of the incidence of cerebrovascular accidents in the early stages.

A beneficial clinical outcome (elimination of CLI and increase in walking distance) was registered in 141 (84.9%) men and 78 (82.1%) women with CLI. At the claudication stage, a positive clinical result was achieved in all operated patients.

DISCUSSION

Hormonal gender characteristics affect the timing of the manifestation of peripheral atherosclerosis and CLI; in most cases, clinical manifestations occur much earlier in men [6], as confirmed in this study.

The clinical signs of peripheral arterial disease in female patients differ from the traditional symptoms of claudication, making it difficult to diagnose even in CLI [7]. Three-quarters of the patients analyzed were operated on within >1 month from the onset of CLI manifestations, which could cause infectious complications and amputations in this group (12.3%).

Another characteristic of female atherosclerosis that affected the incidence of complications was a deviation in pulse pressure [8]. In this study, female patients showed significantly higher pulse pressure values, associated with a high incidence of chronic heart failure, postinfarction cardiosclerosis, and abdominal obesity in the main group.

In the presence of a multilevel peripheral arterial disease, the predominant lesion of certain segments in men and women was not the same [9]. Changes in the tibial segment were more common in the main group, leaving the possibility for endovascular revascularization.

The optimal timing of reconstruction in patients with a multilevel peripheral arterial disease before or after the development of CLI is subject to discussion. In the presence of claudication, the number of complications is usually less, which should be considered when determining the approach to treatment of a particular patient [10]. More hazardous complications were registered in CLI patients, implying the need to reduce the time between establishing a diagnosis and surgery.

Thrombosis of the operated segment, among complications after a reconstructive intervention, is most often registered in men with CLI. Repeated reconstructions achieved an acceptable clinical result in several patients; however, such postoperative consequences prove the benefit of revascularization in men with no effect from the conservative treatment of claudication [11].

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolic disorders in female patients with a multilevel peripheral arterial disease often lead to the development of CLI and complications after revascularization. The efficiency of reconstructive care in men and women with peripheral atherosclerosis at the stage of claudication determines the need for surgical intervention in the absence of conservative treatment results.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Funding. The study had no external funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The limitation of this study is the lack of results in the treatment of critical ischemia in the long term.

All authors made a significant contribution to the study and preparation of the article and read and approved the final version before its publication.