The Frequency of Primary Healthcare Contacts Preceding the Diagnosis of Lower-Extremity Arterial Disease: Do Women Consult General Practice Differently?

Abstract

Background. Women with lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD) are often underdiagnosed, present themselves with more advanced disease at diagnosis, and fare worse than men. Objective. To investigate to what extent potential gender differences exist in the frequency and reasons for general practitioner (GP) consultation six months prior to the diagnosis of LEAD, as potential indicators of diagnostic delay. Methods. Individuals older than 18 years diagnosed with LEAD, sampled from the Julius General Practitioner’s Network (JGPN), were included and compared with a reference population, matched (1:2.6 ratio) in terms of age, sex, and general practice. We applied a zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression model. Results. The study population comprised 4044 patients with LEAD (43.5% women) and 10,486 subjects in the reference population (46.3% women). In the LEAD cohort, the number of GP contacts was 2.70 (95% CI: 2.42, 3.02) in women and 2.54 (2.29, 2.82) in men. In the reference cohort, 1.77 (95% CI: 1.62, 1.94) in women and 1.63 (CI: 1.50, 1.78) in men. In the LEAD cohort, 21.9% of GP contacts occurred one month prior to diagnosis. In both cohorts and both sexes, the most common cause of consultation during the last month before the index date was cardiovascular problems. Conclusions. Six months preceding the initial diagnosis of LEAD, patients visit the GP more often than a similar population without LEAD, regardless of gender. Reported gender differences in the severity of LEAD at diagnosis do not seem to be explained by a delay in presentation to the GP.

Now Is the Time to Bring a Common but Unpopular Noncommunicable Disease into Focus: Peripheral Arterial Disease Takes Limbs and Lives, but It Must Also Touch Our Hearts!

“…In their study, patients with PAD visited a general practitioner more often than a similar population without PAD, regardless of sex. Yet, the hypothesis that reported sex differences in the severity of PAD at diagnosis are explained by a delay in presentation to the general practitioner could not be confirmed [ 15 ]. As vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and angiologists, we must appreciate that the majority of the life course of our patients is guided by general practitioners.…”