Publication date: Jul 24, 2024

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant disruptions in chronic disease care and forced people to stay at home. The effects of such issues on outpatients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) remain unknown. Patients and methods: Single-centre, retrospective-prospective study conducted in a Swiss University Hospital. Patients with PAD were included between May 1 and July 31, 2020, with a follow-up visit at 12 months. Upon both visits, the Leriche-Fontaine PAD stage was recorded, and study participants underwent ankle-brachial index (ABI) calculation to assess limb perfusion. Functional capacities were assessed through the 6-minute walking and treadmill tests. Major adverse cardiovascular (MACE) and limb events (MALE) were recorded. Data collected during the pandemic were compared with the pre-pandemic period (January 1, 2019-April 30, 2020). Results: Overall, 259 patients were included. Mean age was 69 years and male sex was prevalent (69. 1%). Odds of experiencing a degradation in PAD stage were lower during the pandemic than before (odds ratio [OR]: 0. 43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0. 21-0. 87; p = 0. 018). No significant difference was found between periods in terms of ABI trends. Both pain-free walking time at treadmill test (p = 0. 003) and maximal pain intensity at 6-minute walking test (p = 0. 001) significantly improved during the pandemic. Compared with the pre-pandemic period, during the pandemic patients were hospitalized less frequently (p = 0. 028) and were less likely to undergo elective limb revascularization (p

Semantics

Original Article