Author(s): CARVALHO, J.1, FARAH, B.2, WOLOSKER, N.3, CUCATO, G.4, CUNHA, P.1, RITTI-DIAS, R.1, CORREIA, M.1, KANEGUSUKU, H.1, Institution: UNIVERSIDADE NOVE DE JULHO, Country: BRAZIL, Abstract-ID: 1174

INTRODUCTION:
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with poor functional capacity and major cardiovascular risk factors. Its primary clinical manifestation is intermittent claudication, characterized by leg pain during walking that is relieved by rest. Poor nutritional status has been identified as an additional risk factor and has emerged as an important prognostic indicator associated with greater disease severity in this population. This study aimed to determine whether malnutrition risk is associated with a higher risk of mortality in patients with symptomatic PAD.
METHODS:
In this study, patients (mean age 66 ± 9 years, 63% men) with symptomatic PAD (Rutherford stages I–III) were followed for approximately 4.6 ± 2.3 years. Baseline clinical characteristics and comorbidities were recorded. Walking capacity was assessed using the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Nutritional status was classified as normal or at risk of malnutrition according to the Mini Nutritional Assessment–Short Form (MNA-SF). Cox regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, ankle–brachial index, and absolute 6MWT distance (p < 0.05).
RESULTS:
A total of 159 patients were included in the data analysis, of whom 57 died. Cardiovascular disease was the most common cause of death (29%), followed by cancer (8%), respiratory disease (6%), and renal disease (4%). Patients at nutritional risk demonstrated poorer performance on the six-minute walk test compared with those with normal nutritional status (295.65 ± 92.03 m vs. 338.00 ± 74.53 m; p = 0.002). In addition, nutritional risk was significantly associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.696; 95% CI: 1.076–2.674; p = 0.02).
CONCLUSION:
Nutritional risk in patients with PAD is associated with lower functional capacity and an increased risk of mortality. These findings highlight the importance of nutritional assessment as part of the clinical management of patients with PAD.

Acknowledgment: Capes (88887.211923/2025-00)