Clopidogrel and 1-Year Freedom From Amputation After Endovascular Lower Extremity Revascularization in the Medicare Population

Objective: To evaluate freedom from amputation in patients identified utilizing clopidogrel following their lower extremity endovascular revascularization (LER). Methods: Patients, 65 years of age and older, undergoing LER were identified from Medicare Provider Analysis and Review and Carrier files utilizing International Classification of Diseases diagnosis and Current Procedural Terminology codes. Postprocedural use of clopidogrel was identified using the National Drug Code directory. Outcomes were evaluated. Results: A total of 14 353 patients were identified: 5697 (39.7%) with claudication, 1467 (10.2%) with rest pain, and 7189 (50.1%) with ulceration/tissue loss. In all, 5416 (37.7%) patients were identified using clopidogrel after LER. Overall, patients initiated on clopidogrel had lower amputation rates at 30 days (10.34% vs 14.09%; P < .0001), 90 days (14.05% vs 18.71%; P < .0001), and 1 year (19.68% vs 24.06%; P < .0001). Conclusion: Utilization of clopidogrel after LER was associated with lower rates of amputation, yet only 38% of the Medicare population was identified as using clopidogrel. Patients with ulceration and tissue loss benefited the most with significantly greater freedom from amputation and overall survival.