Abstract
Background: Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels are a causal risk factor for peripheral artery disease. However, data on their effect on delayed wound healing in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) are limited. The present study assessed the association between elevated Lp(a) levels and delayed wound healing in patients with CLTI.
Methods and Results: This study included 280 patients who successfully received endovascular therapy for CLTI between September 2016 and August 2021. High Lp(a) levels were defined as those >30 mg/dL. The primary outcome was wound healing. During a median follow-up of 20.4 months (interquartile range 6.8–38.6 months), 146 patients achieved wound healing. The wound healing rate at 24 months was significantly lower in the high Lp(a) than low Lp(a) group (41.1% vs. 86.3%, respectively; P<0.001). The adjusted risk ratio was 0.19 (95% confidence interval 0.13–0.29, P<0.001). Lp(a) levels of 31–50 and >50 mg/dL, but not 16–30 mg/dL, were significantly associated with delayed wound healing relative to Lp(a) levels of ≤15 mg/dL.
Conclusions: Elevated Lp(a) levels were independently associated with delayed wound healing in patients with CLTI treated with endovascular therapy.
