Timothy P Shiraev1, Elif Durur2, David A Robinson2. 1. Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: timothy.shiraev1@my.nd.edu.au. 2. Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although the potential for complications after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) mandates lifetime follow-up, noncompliance with follow-up has been shown to be as high as 57%. We sought to investigate the incidence of noncompliance with follow-up in our patient population and to identify risk factors associated with this to allow implementation of targeted strategies to prevent loss to follow-up. METHODS: We carried out a review of consecutive patients undergoing EVAR at 2 Sydney hospitals between 1995 and 2015. Patients noncompliant with standard follow-up were compared with a control group of compliant patients. Data collected included baseline clinical characteristics, perioperative complications, and postoperative complications, as well as distance from treating centers. RESULTS: During the study period, 1,482 patients underwent EVAR, of which 338 patients (22.8%) were not compliant with follow-up. Patients noncompliant with follow-up were significantly more likely to be younger, have hypertension, and be current smokers. Patients who did not attend follow-up were also significantly more likely to be from a non-English-speaking background (28.4 vs. 17.9%; P = 0.01) and live closer to the treating institution (109 ± 151.5 vs. 150 ± 208.34 km; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up after EVAR remains suboptimal. The present study serves to demonstrate that several factors, especially current smoking and a non-English-speaking background, are associated with poor compliance with follow-up after EVAR in our patient population and represent a potential area of intervention to improve compliance.
BACKGROUND: Although the potential for complications after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) mandates lifetime follow-up, noncompliance with follow-up has been shown to be as high as 57%. We sought to investigate the incidence of noncompliance with follow-up in our patient population and to identify risk factors associated with this to allow implementation of targeted strategies to prevent loss to follow-up. METHODS: We carried out a review of consecutive patients undergoing EVAR at 2 Sydney hospitals between 1995 and 2015. Patients noncompliant with standard follow-up were compared with a control group of compliant patients. Data collected included baseline clinical characteristics, perioperative complications, and postoperative complications, as well as distance from treating centers. RESULTS: During the study period, 1,482 patients underwent EVAR, of which 338 patients (22.8%) were not compliant with follow-up. Patients noncompliant with follow-up were significantly more likely to be younger, have hypertension, and be current smokers. Patients who did not attend follow-up were also significantly more likely to be from a non-English-speaking background (28.4 vs. 17.9%; P = 0.01) and live closer to the treating institution (109 ± 151.5 vs. 150 ± 208.34 km; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up after EVAR remains suboptimal. The present study serves to demonstrate that several factors, especially current smoking and a non-English-speaking background, are associated with poor compliance with follow-up after EVAR in our patient population and represent a potential area of intervention to improve compliance.
Authors: Amanda R Phillips; Elizabeth A Andraska; Katherine M Reitz; Lucine Gabriel; Karim M Salem; Natalie D Sridharan; Edith Tzeng; Nathan L Liang Journal: Ann Vasc Surg Date: 2021-11-12 Impact factor: 1.466
Authors: Rami A El Shafie; Dorothea Weber; Nina Bougatf; Tanja Sprave; Dieter Oetzel; Peter E Huber; Jürgen Debus; Nils H Nicolay Journal: JMIR Mhealth Uhealth Date: 2018-08-30 Impact factor: 4.773