Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Veterans in the US have higher rates of lower extremity amputation (LEA) compared to the general population and these rates have increased between 2008 and 2018. There is limited data which directly evaluate the potential underlying comorbidities associated with LEA in the veterans' population especially with the most recent data. Such information is critical to help inform clinical management strategies to reduce the risk of amputations among our veterans. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study of adults in the Veterans Health Administration database who underwent LEA from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023. The date of the first LEA procedure was defined as the index date. Index LEA type, patient demographic at baseline, and clinical characteristics (including diagnoses for conditions associated with LEA and other comorbidities) 1 year before and 30 days after the index LEA procedure (except for bacterial infections which the identification period was 30 days before and 30 days after the index LEA procedure) were described. RESULTS: Of the 27,134 Veterans with LEA, 67.3% were ≥ 65 years of age, 97.0% were male, and 65.3% were non-Hispanic white. The most common type of LEA was transmetatarsal (52.9%), followed by toe (21.9%), above-knee (15.4%), and below-knee (9.8%). The most prevalent diagnoses associated with LEA were diabetes (81.6%), bacterial infections (79.1%), and peripheral artery disease (PAD; 63.3%). Only 15 Veterans (< 0.1%) had a diagnosis for combat-related injuries to lower extremities. CONCLUSION: Diabetes and PAD are highly prevalent and among the main conditions associated with LEA among US Veterans. Earlier and more effective preventative and clinical management of these conditions offer an opportunity to significantly reduce the rates of LEA in this population.