OBJECTIVES: There is a lack of up-to-date epidemiological data regarding patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) who underwent lower-limb revascularization in France. The objectives of the study were to quantify the number of patients with PAD who annually undergo lower-limb revascularization in France, and to assess the onset of atherothrombotic events (AE) in this population.

METHODS: Using the French Hospital Discharge Database (PMSI), patients hospitalized for revascularization for PAD (index date) were followed from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019. AE (a composite of: acute limb ischemia, major amputation for vascular cause, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke/TIA, and in-hospital death) as well as comorbidities were identified using ICD-10 codes, medical procedure code, or medication dispensing and the cumulative incidence of AE was assessed.

RESULTS: During the 4-year study period, a total of 191,758 patients underwent revascularization for PAD and were included in the study. From 55,151 to 58,493 patients underwent revascularization for PAD each year. Patients had a mean age of 72 ± 12.2 years at index date, and were mainly men (69.3%). The three most frequent comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (35.7%), chronic coronary disease (30.3%), and renal failure (15.8%). Cumulative incidence of the first AE at 12, 24 and 36 months were 33.8%, 43.2% and 50.1%. The three most frequent events that occurred were ALI (26.3%), all-cause in-hospital death (19.1%), and major amputation for vascular causes (11.0%). Secondary revascularization occurred in 32.4% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive and contemporary overview of patients treated by revascularization for PAD in our country in the recent years. Adjusted comparative results will allow to compare these occurrences between the different events of interest.