Amputation Rates: Arterial Disease & Disadvantage
- People in England's most disadvantaged areas face leg amputation rates four times higher than those in wealthier regions, a new study reveals.
- The study, published in Bjs Open, examined hospital admissions data from 2006 to 2018, encompassing 47,249 major lower limb amputations due to peripheral arterial disease.
- Researchers found that above-knee amputations were approximately four times more frequent in the most deprived areas compared to the least.
A University of Sheffield study unveils a stark reality: leg amputation rates are drastically higher in England’s most disadvantaged areas due to arterial disease. This critical disparity, with rates four times greater in deprived regions, demands immediate attention. The research, which analyzed data from 2006 to 2018, pinpoints peripheral arterial disease as a notable factor, emphasizing how socioeconomic inequalities drive these adverse outcomes. Those in lower-income areas are disproportionately affected by severe leg infections and gangrene, often leading to amputation when other treatments prove insufficient. The implications of these findings, published in BJS Open, highlight the need for targeted interventions. At News Directory 3, we are committed to bringing you this crucial information. Discover what’s next for this critical issue.
Disparities in Leg amputation Rates Linked to Socioeconomic Factors
Updated June 12, 2025
People in England’s most disadvantaged areas face leg amputation rates four times higher than those in wealthier regions, a new study reveals. The research, conducted by the University of sheffield, highlights notable socioeconomic disparities in outcomes related to peripheral arterial disease and subsequent leg amputation.
The study, published in Bjs Open, examined hospital admissions data from 2006 to 2018, encompassing 47,249 major lower limb amputations due to peripheral arterial disease. This condition, characterized by restricted blood supply caused by fatty deposits in the arteries, often leads to amputation when other treatments fail.
Researchers found that above-knee amputations were approximately four times more frequent in the most deprived areas compared to the least. below-knee amputations were about three times as high. While amputation rates decreased overall for those over 65,little enhancement was seen in the under-65 population.
The primary reasons for amputation included severe leg infections and gangrene resulting from restricted arterial blood supply. The study underscores that socioeconomic inequalities are the main driver of these disparities in leg amputation and peripheral arterial disease.
Being told you need to have a leg amputated can be a devastating and frightening experience for patients.
Professor Ravi Maheswaran, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Sheffield, emphasized the urgent need for targeted interventions.He stated that greater efforts are needed in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas to prevent and manage peripheral arterial disease, reduce amputation rates, and improve survival following amputation.
What’s next
Future efforts shoudl focus on addressing socioeconomic inequalities to reduce the burden of peripheral arterial disease and leg amputation. Targeted interventions and improved access to care in disadvantaged communities are crucial to improving outcomes.