Trends in amputations in people with hospital admissions for peripheral arterial disease in Germany

Using the information of the federal statistics, a detailed description of the hospitalisation rate for amputation in Germany was possible for the first time, and trends since 2005 can be reported. Detailed lists of all amputations coded as minor amputations (OPS 5 - 864) and major amputations (OPS 5 - 865) performed in 2005 and 2008, divided into the 4th and 5th number of the OPS-code, were provided by the Federal Statistical Office. Despite an increase in total number of hospitalized patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease and neurovascular disease there is a relevant decrease in age adjusted major amputation rates per 100.000 population in Germany from 27.0 in 2005 to 25.1 in 2008 in males and from 19.7 in 2005 to 17.1 in 2008 in females. Overall minor amputation rates do not show such a decrease but increased in males (from 47.4 in 2005 to 53.7 in 2008) und remained unchanged in females (23.1 in 2005 and 23.1 in 2008). In the 6th and 7th decade of life males have approximately four times higher major and minor amputation rates than females. Hospitalisation rate for major amputation in Germany decreased in the recent years whereas hospitalisation rate for minor amputation did not.