The Pink Tax: Sex and Gender Disparities in Peripheral Artery Disease

Sex Disparities in PAD Patients: Retrospective Study Utilizing MIMIC-IV v3.1 Database

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a progressive atherosclerotic condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. While PAD prevalence is comparable between sexes, women tend to have worse clinical outcomes, higher rates of disability, and are underdiagnosed and undertreated compared to men. This study examines sex differences in PAD presentation, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV v3.1 database. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using electronic health records from the MIMIC-IV v3.1 database, identifying patients diagnosed with PAD between 2008 and 2022. Patient selection was based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 codes. The following two datasets were constructed: an admission-level dataset (6468 admissions, 3913 unique patients) and a patient-level dataset aggregating multiple admissions per individual. Key variables included demographics, hospitalization details, procedure rates, and clinical outcomes. Sex-based comparisons were performed to assess disparities in disease burden, intervention rates, and mortality. Results: The study cohort comprised 3913 PAD patients. Women were significantly older than men at time of admission (mean 70.78 vs. 68.97 years, p < 0.05) and had lower rates of procedural intervention across all categories, including angioplasty (12.85% vs. 15.39%) and bypass grafting (14.74% vs. 16.98%). Despite similar Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission rates (30.56% in females vs. 31.73% in males), women experienced greater delays in PAD diagnosis and treatment initiation. The in-hospital mortality rate was comparable between sexes (6.62% vs. 6.92%). Women presented more frequently with atypical or asymptomatic PAD, leading to delays in diagnosis and specialist referrals. Conclusions: This study highlights significant sex disparities in PAD diagnosis and management. Women with PAD are older at diagnosis, receive fewer procedural interventions, and experience delayed clinical recognition, contributing to a higher cumulative disease burden. These findings underscore the need for sex-specific diagnostic criteria, improved clinical awareness, and equitable treatment strategies to optimize PAD outcomes in women.

Association of monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with peripheral artery disease and long-term mortality

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the association of monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and long-term mortality.MethodsData from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2004 were analyzed, with mortality follow-up tracked via the National Death Index until December 31, 2019. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between MHR and PAD, while Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the association of MHR with mortality in individuals with PAD.ResultsA total of 6319 participants were included, among whom 550 were identified as having PAD. In weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis, participants in the third (odds ratio [OR]: 1.031, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.009-1.053, p = 0.007) and fourth (OR: 1.034, 95% CI: 1.011-1.057, p = 0.006) quartiles of MHR demonstrated significantly higher risks of PAD compared to those in the first quartile. Among PAD individuals, during a median follow-up period of 136 (71, 197) months, 422 deaths occurred. Higher MHR was associated with an increased risk of long-term mortality in females (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.695, 95% CI: 1.222-2.350, p = 0.002) but not in males (HR: 0.761, 95% CI: 0.554-1.044 p = 0.090).ConclusionsElevated MHR is independently associated with PAD among U.S. population. The association between MHR and long-term prognosis of PAD exhibits gender differences, with a significant relationship observed between elevated MHR and long-term mortality risk in females, but not in males.

Unmet Needs and Opportunities for Australian Innovation and Clinical Research to Improve Quality of Life and Outcomes in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is characterised by atherosclerotic stenosis or occlusion of arteries that leads to reduced blood flow to the limbs. PAD is associated with a very high rate of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality making the health and economic burden of PAD substantial. Despite high-quality evidence and international guidelines recommending conservative medical management of risk factors, and exercise and lifestyle interventions, surgical revascularisation (open or endovascular) remains the main treatment for PAD. Alarmingly, up to one-third of patients do not receive best medical therapy after revascularisation surgery despite evidence supporting this treatment reduces cardiovascular events. Due to the considerable health burden that PAD presents, this manuscript aims to identify gaps in care and clinical research in PAD across Australia and proposes potential collaborative solutions. In Australia, there is significant disparity in care between rural/regional and metropolitan communities. These gaps are exacerbated by inequitable access to services across Australia, particularly for First Nation Australians, culturally and linguistically diverse groups and those living in regional and remote areas. This review identifies unmet needs for patients with PAD that are multifaceted, spanning from improved understanding of disease mechanisms, diagnostic tools for risk stratification and personalised therapy, to a paucity of medical and rehabilitation therapies for symptoms or prevention of cardiovascular complications. Furthermore, there are opportunities for national and international registries to optimise clinical trial quality and outcomes. Strategies should be applied to improve implementation of optimal medical therapy in PAD which will improve quality of life, reduce health care costs, and prevent secondary complications, limb loss, and mortality across Australia's diverse population.