Outcomes of Revascularisation for Treating Lifestyle-Limiting Intermittent Claudication in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and Non-Indigenous Patients from North Queensland: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

This retrospective analysis of an ongoing prospective cohort study aimed to assess the outcome of revascularisation for treating lifestyle-limiting intermittent claudication caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and non-Indigenous North Queenslanders. Consenting patients with PAD who underwent endovascular or open revascularisation procedures for treating lifestyle-limiting intermittent claudication were included. The primary outcome measure was major adverse limb events (MALEs), defined as major amputation or the requirement for repeat open or endovascular revascularisation. Of the 378 included patients, 18 (4.8%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples. During a mean follow-up (standard deviation) of 6.0 (3.9) years, the incidence of MALE was similar in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and non-Indigenous Australians (absolute percentage: 50.0% vs. 40.6%, log rank = 0.59). In both unadjusted and adjusted analyses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and non-Indigenous Australians had similar risks of MALE (unadjusted hazard ratio, HR, 1.20, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.61, 2.36; adjusted HR 1.02, 95%CI 0.50, 2.06). This study suggests that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are under-represented in the population of patients undergoing revascularisation to treat intermittent claudication. Due to small numbers it cannot be reliably concluded that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and non-Indigenous Australians have similar rates of MALE.