A review of disparities in peripheral artery disease and diabetes-related amputations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected health care delivery. In addition to the significant morbidity and mortality associated with acute illness from COVID-19, the indirect impact has been far-reaching, including substantial disruptions in chronic disease care. As a result of pandemic disruptions in health care, vulnerable and minority populations have faced health inequalities. The aim of this review was to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted vulnerable populations with limb-threatening peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot infections.

Closing the Gaps in Racial Disparities in Critical Limb Ischemia Outcome and Amputation Rates: Proceedings from a Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation Research Consensus Panel.

Minority patients such as Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans are disproportionately impacted by critical limb ischemia and amputation due to multiple factors such as socioeconomic status, type or lack of insurance, lack of access to health care, capacity and expertise of local hospitals, prevalence of diabetes, and unconscious bias. The Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation recognizes that it is imperative to close the disparity gaps and funded a Research Consensus Panel to prioritize a research agenda. The following research priorities were ultimately prioritized: (a) randomized controlled trial with peripheral arterial disease screening of at-risk patients with oversampling of high-risk racial groups, (b) prospective trial with the introduction of an intervention to alter a social determinant of health, and (c) a prospective trial with the implementation of an algorithm that requires criteria be met prior to an amputation. This article presents the proceedings and recommendations from the panel.