Characteristics and outcomes of octogenarians with revascularized critical limb ischemia: Impact of altered cardiac function for early mortality

Abstract

Objective: Patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) present with advanced age and end-stage organ damage, in particular heart failure. The aim of the present study is to describe clinical and biological characteristics in octogenarian patients with CLI compared to their younger counterparts and to determine the peri-procedural risk and early mortality after endovascular procedure.

Methods: From November 2013 to May 2019, 315 consecutive patients were retrospectively included. Clinical and biological parameters were recorded at baseline before endovascular revascularization. The main outcome was total 1-year mortality.

Results: The study included 170 octogenarians and 145 non-octogenarians. The mean age of octogenarian patients was 86.9±4.8 years, almost 20 years higher than that registered in non-octagenarians patients (67.4±8.6 years). Octogenarian patients were mostly women (59.4%), presented with lower body mass index (23.8±4.4kg/m²), lower serum albumin level (31.5±5.4g/L) and lower creatinine clearance (66.1±24.5mL/mn) than younger counterparts. They were more likely to be institutionalized in a nursing home (27.1%). In the peri-procedural period, major bleeding occurred in 40 patients (12.7%), without statistical significance between the two age groups. Peri-procedural mortality occurred in 12 patients (3.8%), of whom 10 patients (83%) were octogenarians. Cumulative mortality rate was 25.4% (80 patients) during the one-year follow-up period: 58 octogenarians died (34.1%) compared to 22 non-octogenarian patients (15.2%), P<0.001. Cardiovascular events were highly prevalent, accounting for 40% of overall mortality. Twenty-five patients (8%) experienced major amputation, without significant difference between the two age groups. In octogenarian population, institutionalized status (P=0.004) and BNP level (P=0.001) were positively correlated with mortality whereas systolic blood pressure (P<0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (P=0.003), serum albumin (P=0.020), C-Reactive protein (P=0.020) and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors at hospital discharge were negatively correlated with mortality. In multivariate analysis for mortality, only BNP level≥500pg/mL (HR 3.27; 95% CI 1.04-10.97; P=0.04), was correlated with mortality, independently of other confounders.

Conclusion: In the present study population, octogenarians represent a rather distinct CLI population, 20 years of age older as compared to non-octogenarians, with prevalent malnutrition and institutionalized status. The present results underline a substantial one-year mortality rate of 34.1% in this elderly population following revascularization procedure with a 6% peri-procedural mortality. Decompensated heart failure is an important contributor for mortality.

Keywords: Critical limb ischemia; Heart failure; Mortality; Octogenarians.