Race independently impacts outcome of infrapopliteal bypass for symptomatic arterial insufficiency.

The impact of racial background on the outcome of lower extremity revascularization is unknown because a majority of studies have a preponderance of white patients. The charts of patients between 1988 and 2004 requiring infrapopliteal lower extremity revascularization were reviewed. Life-table analyses, the Cox proportional hazards model, and log-rank test were used to calculate graft patency and limb salvage. Bypasses were performed on 236 limbs in 225 patients. Mean follow-up was 18 +/- 1.5 months. Twenty-eight (12%) bypasses were performed on whites, 43 (18%) on African Americans, 148 (63%) on Hispanics, and 17 (7.2%) on patients of other races. African American race negatively correlated with primary-assisted patency (hazard ratio 2.9, P = .03), secondary patency (hazard ratio 3.64, P = .02), and limb salvage (hazard ratio 8, P = .006) compared with whites. African American race has a negative impact on the long-term outcome of infrapopliteal revascularization, regardless of disease stage or associated risk factors.