Impact of Controlling a Nutritional Status Score on Wound Healing in Patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia after Endovascular Treatment

Background: Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is the most advanced stage of peripheral artery disease. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to avoid major amputation in CLTI patients. Malnutrition worsens the condition of CLTI patients, and therefore, it may be important to evaluate the nutritional status in patients with CLTI. This study was designed to evaluate the baseline patient characteristics and the influence of the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score on the clinical results. Method and Results: A retrospective, single-center, non-randomized study was conducted to evaluate the associations of death, major amputation, and wound healing rate at 12 months with the CONUT score on admission. Consecutive CLTI patients (mean age 73.2 & PLUSMN; 10.4 years; 84 males) who underwent endovascular therapy (EVT) for infra-popliteal lesions at Fukuoka University Hospital from January 2014 to May 2019 were enrolled and divided into two groups (higher and lower CONUT score groups). The higher CONUT group showed a higher percentage of dialysis (66.7% vs. 33.9%, p < 0.001) and a higher clinical frailty scale (5.9 & PLUSMN; 1.4 vs. 4.9 & PLUSMN; 1.9, p = 0.005) than the lower CONUT group. Rates of amputation-free survival were 89.5% and 69.8% in the lower and higher CONUT groups, respectively. In addition, rates of wound healing at 12 months were 98.0% and 78.3% in the lower and higher CONUT groups, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that a higher CONUT score was an independent predictor for delayed wound healing (OR: 11.2; 95% CI: 1.29-97.5; p = 0.028). Conclusion: An assessment of the nutritional status using the CONUT score could be useful for predicting wound healing, and earlier nutritional intervention may improve the outcome of CLTI patients. Early examination and treatment, along with raising awareness of the issue, may be important for improving the prognosis.