Gender differences in vascular interventions for lower limb ischaemia

Objectives: to investigate changes in intervention for lower limb ischaemia with regard to gender. Material and method: type of procedure, the age and gender of all patients (8687) undergoing interventions (12 295) for lower limb ischaemia in Stockholm 1970-1994, were obtained from the National Board of Health and Welfare. Results: interventions rose from 18 per million inhabitants in 1970 to 786 in 1994. The proportion of women treated grew from 34% to 48%. The number of embolectomies decreased from 80 to 69 per million. Infrainguinal reconstructions increased from 38 in 1980-1084 to 186 per million inhabitants in 1990-1994, with the proportion of women increasing from 33 to 43%. Mean age increased from 63 to 71 years. Conclusions: there was a marked increase in the number of procedures, the proportion of female patients and mean age.