Association of Health Care Utilization and Access to Care With Vascular Assessment Before Major Lower Extremity Amputation Among US Veterans

Importance Patient-level characteristics alone do not account for variation in care among US veterans with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Presently, the extent to which health care utilization and regional practice variation are associated with veterans receiving vascular assessment prior to major lower extremity amputation (LEA) is unknown.Objective To assess whether demographics, comorbidities, distance to primary care, the number of ambulatory clinic visits (primary and medical specialty care), and geographic region are associated with receipt of vascular assessment prior to LEA.Design, Setting, and Participants This national cohort study used US Department of Veterans Affairs' Corporate Data Warehouse data from March 1, 2010, to February 28, 2020, for veterans aged 18 or older who underwent major LEA and who received care at Veterans Affairs facilities.Exposures The number of ambulatory clinic visits (primary and medical specialty care) in the year prior to LEA, geographic region of residence, and distance to primary care.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcome was receipt of a vascular assessment (vascular imaging study or revascularization procedure) in the year prior to LEA.Results Among 19 396 veterans, the mean (SD) age was 66.78 (10.20) years and 98.5% were male. In the year prior to LEA, 8.0% had no primary care visits and 30.1% did not have a vascular assessment. Compared with veterans with 4 to 11 primary care clinic visits, those with fewer visits were less likely to receive vascular assessment in the year prior to LEA (1-3 visits: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-0.99). Compared with veterans who lived less than 13 miles from the closest primary care facility, those who lived 13 miles or more from the facility were less likely to receive vascular assessment (aOR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80-0.95). Veterans who resided in the Midwest were most likely to undergo vascular assessment in the year prior to LEA than were those living in other regions.Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, health care utilization, distance to primary care, and geographic region were associated with intensity of PAD treatment before LEA, suggesting that some veterans may be at greater risk of suboptimal PAD care practices. Development of clinical programs, such as remote patient monitoring and management, may represent potential opportunities to improve limb preservation rates and the overall quality of vascular care for veterans.