Predictors of 2-Year Mortality and Risk Stratification After Surgical or Endovascular Revascularization of Infrainguinal Artery Disease in Hemodialysis Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia.

Purpose: To examine the 2-year mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and determine predictors that may aid in the selection of a revascularization strategy [bypass surgery or endovascular therapy (EVT)] according to current guidelines.

Methods: From 2007 to 2009, 246 consecutive CLI patients (mean age 69±10 years; 170 men) on HD underwent revascularization for de novo infrainguinal lesions (178 EVT and 68 bypass grafting). The majority of the patients had diabetes (170, 69%) and tissue loss (194, 79%); nearly half (111, 45%) were nonambulatory. Overall survival after revascularization was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Predictors for 2-year mortality after revascularization were determined using a Cox proportional hazards model; results are given as the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: Overall survival rate was 77% at 1 year and 66% at 2 years. Predictors of 2-year mortality after revascularization were age >75 years (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.91, p=0.012), albumin <3 g/dL (HR 2.31, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.84, p=0.001), and ejection fraction <50% (HR 1.73, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.83, p=0.027). Patients with more predictors had a higher incidence of death within 2 years after revascularization.

Conclusion: Advanced age, low albumin level, and low ejection fraction were independently associated with 2-year mortality after revascularization in HD patients with CLI. Risk stratification by these factors would be useful for deciding on a revascularization strategy.