Decreased microcirculatory function measured by perfusion index is predictive of cardiovascular death.

BACKGROUND: The importance of microcirculation for adverse outcomes in the early phase of critical illnesses has been reported. Microcirculatory function is assessed using the perfusion index (PI), which represents the level of circulation through peripheral tissues. We investigated the correlation between PI and cardiovascular death to explore whether it can serve as a predictor of cardiovascular death. METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective study included 2171 patients admitted to Matsushita Memorial Hospital in Osaka, Japan, for medical treatment. We measured PI for all patients. To examine the effects of PI on cardiovascular death, a Cox proportional hazard model was used. The median age and PI values were 72 years (range 63-79 years) and 2.7% (range 1.4-4.6%), respectively. During the 3927.7 person-years follow-up period, a total of 54 patients died due to cardiovascular disease. PI was positively correlated with BMI (P < 0.0001) and total cholesterol levels (P = 0.004). PI was negatively correlated with age (P < 0.0001), heart rate (P < 0.0001), and creatinine levels (P < 0.0001). Adjusted Cox regression analyses demonstrated that PI was associated with an increased hazard of cardiovascular death (hazard ratio 0.84; 95% CI; range 0.72-0.99). In addition, compared with patients with a high PI (> 3.7%), those with a low PI (≤ 2.0%) had a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular death. This low PI group had a hazard ratio of 3.49 (95% CI 1.73-7.82). CONCLUSIONS: The PI is a valuable predictor for cardiovascular death in a clinical setting.

The perfusion index is a useful screening tool for peripheral artery disease.

The number of people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) has been increasing globally; therefore, it is important to explore more options to screen patients who are at a risk of developing PAD. The perfusion index (PI) represents the degree of circulation through the peripheral tissues and is measured noninvasively. We investigated the correlation between the PI and ankle-brachial index (ABI) to explore whether the PI could be used a screening tool for PAD. This cross-sectional study included 390 patients. We measured the ABI and PI for all patients. The median ABI value was 1.06 (0.92-1.13); the PI was 1.7% (0.9-3.5). The PI was higher in men than in women (P < 0.0001). The PI was positively correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate and ABI in both men and women. The sensitivity and specificity of the PI to predict PAD (ABI ≤0.9) were 90.0% and 80.3%, respectively, and the cutoff PI value was 1.5% in men. The sensitivity and specificity of the PI to predict PAD were 82.1% and 79.2%, respectively, and the cutoff PI value was 1.1% in women. PI could be a reliable screening tool for diagnosing PAD because it does not restrict the patient's mobility, can be completed in a short time period, and is associated with reduced costs.

Decreased peripheral perfusion measured by perfusion index is a novel indicator for cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the major cause of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Despite of recent therapies, mortality and resources spent on healthcare due to CVD is still important problem. Thus, appropriate markers are needed to predict poor outcomes. Therefore, we investigated the role of peripheral perfusion as an indicator for cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and established CVD. This retrospective cohort study included 1080 patients with type 2 diabetes and history of CVD recruited from the outpatient clinic at Matsushita Memorial Hospital in Osaka, Japan. Peripheral perfusion is assessed using the perfusion index (PI), which represents the level of circulation through peripheral tissues. The median age and PI values were 74 years (range: 67-79 years) and 2.6% (range: 1.1-4.3%), respectively. During follow-up duration, 60 patients died due to CVD. The adjusted Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the risk of developing cardiovascular death was higher in the first quartile (Hazard ratio, 6.23; 95% CI, 2.28 to 22.12) or second quartile (Hazard ratio, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.46 to 6.85) of PI than that in the highest quartile (fourth quartile) of PI. PI (per 1% decrease) was associated with the development of cardiovascular death (Hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.68). PI could be a novel indicator of cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and established CVD.

Peripheral perfusion, measured by perfusion index, is a novel indicator for renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the leading causes of end stage renal disease. Despite recent therapies, mortality due to DKD and resources spent on healthcare are important problems. Thus, appropriate markers are needed to predict renal outcomes. Therefore, we investigated the role of peripheral perfusion as an indicator for renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This retrospective cohort study included 566 patients who were admitted to Matsushita Memorial Hospital in Osaka, Japan for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Peripheral perfusion was assessed using perfusion index (PI), which represents the level of circulation through peripheral tissues and was measured on each toe using a Masimo SET Radical-7 (Masimo Corporation, Irvine, CA, USA) instrument. The duration of follow up was 3.0 years. The median age of patients was 70 years (IQR range: 61-77 years) and median PI value was 2.9% (IQR range: 1.8-4.8%). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that PI (per 1% increase) was associated with an odds ratio of composite of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and/or doubling of serum creatinine level; n = 40 (odds ratio 0.823 [95% CI: 0.680-0.970]), and composite of ESRD, doubling of serum creatinine level, and renal death and/or cardiovascular death; n = 44 (odds ratio 0.803 [95% CI: 0.665-0.944]). The factors which were statistically significant in univariate analysis and those known to be related factors for renal event were considered simultaneously as independent variables for multiple logistic regression analysis. PI can be a novel indicator for renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Decreased microcirculatory function measured by perfusion index is a novel indicator of diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Diabetic kidney disease has been considered as an important risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Chronic hypoxia is considered to be the main cause of renal injury. Diminished microcirculatory blood flow could be associated with hypoxia in the kidney. Whether diminished microcirculation is associated with diabetic kidney disease has not yet been reported. Here, we investigated the correlation between microcirculatory function and diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our cross-sectional study included 574 patients who were admitted to Matsushita Memorial Hospital in Moriguchi, Japan, for type 2 diabetes. Microcirculatory function was assessed using the perfusion index (PI), which represents the level of circulation through peripheral tissues. We measured the PI for all patients. RESULTS: The median age and PI values were 70 years (range 60-77 years) and 2.8% (range 1.6-4.8%). Multiple regression analyses showed that the PI independently correlated with the logarithm of urinary albumin excretion (P = 0.009) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.005), respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that patients with systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than the median and PI less than or equal to the median (high-low group) had a significantly increased odds of albuminuria compared with those with SBP less than or equal to the median and PI greater than the median (low-high group), and patients with SBP greater than the median and PI less than or equal to the median (high-low group) had a significantly increased odds of estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 compared with those with SBP less than or equal to the median and PI greater than the median (low-high group) or SBP greater than the median and PI greater than the median (high-high group). CONCLUSIONS: PI could be a novel indicator of diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.