Abbott (NYSE:ABT) announced that it presented impactful findings surrounding disparities in critical limb ischemia (CLI) management.
Presenting at VIVA’s late-breaking clinical trials, Abbott’s shared that it found that a majority of 7,904 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent an amputation had no attempt at a vascular procedure in the year prior to the amputation.
The study evaluated Medicare claims data from 2016 to 2019 to identify fee-for-service beneficiaries with a diagnosis of CLI patients who underwent a major lower-limb amputation, according to a news release. Among those observed, 63.4% received low-intensity vascular care, 5.5% received medium-intensity vascular care and 31.1% received high-intensity vascular care.
Abbott Park, Illinois-based Abbott said low intensity of vascular care received in the year leading up to the amputation was also associated with a greater risk of death and readmission.
Dr. Eric Secemsky of the Smith Center for Outcomes Research in Cardiology, who collaborated with Abbott on the study, said the burden of CLI leaves an impact on patients well after life-altering events, adding that the study identified ways to improve care before and after amputation.
“An objective multidisciplinary vascular assessment is critical prior to amputation as high and medium intensity of care can lower a patient’s risk of death by 23.8% and 21.8%, respectively,” Dr. Nick West, CMO and divisional VP of global medical affairs at Abbott’s vascular business, said in the news release. “However, disparities continue to exist in contemporary vascular practice, and our data reveal that being male, low-income, or receiving care at a safety-net hospital were all strongly associated with receiving lower-intensity vascular care prior to amputation.”
