Prevalence and Outcomes of Peripheral Artery Disease in Sepsis Patients in the Medical Intensive Care Unit
Conditions: Peripheral Artery Disease, Peripheral Artery Occlusion, Sepsis, Diagnosis
Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch

National Taiwan University Hospital 
Hsinchu Branch
Research Protocol 2018
1. Project name
Title
Prevalence and Outcomes of Peripheral Artery Disease in Sepsis Patients in the Medical 
Intensive Care Unit 
Principal 
investigator
Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Division
Mu-Yang Hsieh, Attending Physician
Table of Contents
1. Project name.........................................................................................................................................................1
2. Abstract................................................................................................................................................................3
Background...............................................................................................................................................................3
Methods....................................................................................................................................................................3
3. Background..........................................................................................................................................................4
Prior research in this field.........................................................................................................................................4
Sepsis and peripheral artery disease..............................................................................................................4
Peripheral artery disease- its impact on the outcomes..................................................................................4
Medications for treatment of PAD................................................................................................................4
Clinical needs................................................................................................................................................4
4. Previous studies focusing on PAD in sepsis patients...........................................................................................5
5. Goals of project....................................................................................................................................................6
Purpose (for clinicaltrials.gov registration)..............................................................................................................6
Objectives.................................................................................................................................................................6
6. Methods and procedures......................................................................................................................................7
Research design........................................................................................................................................................7
7. Anticipated results..............................................................................................................................................10
8. Study progress plan....................................................................................................................................11
9. Assignment of Researcher..................................................................................................................................12
10. Funding............................................................................................................................................................13
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11. Reference.........................................................................................................................................................14
12. Appendix..........................................................................................................................................................15
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2. Abstract
Background 
The peripheral artery disease (PAD) has been well known for poor cardiovascular outcomes. Its prevalence is high in 
the elderly, in the diabetic patients, and in the patients receiving hemodialysis. To date, there is no guideline 
recommendation about screening of PAD in patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) for sepsis. 
Methods
We designed a prospective cohort study focusing on patients admitted to the MICU with the main diagnosis of sepsis. 
The ankle-brachial indexes are performed within 4 hours after admission. Invasive arterial line monitoring and standard 
non-invasive measurements are collected. After confirmation of PAD, standard anti-platelet treatments (aspirin and 
cilostazol) are initiated. The survival before and after the conduction of this trial is compared to historical records. The 
outcomes including all-cause mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, minor amputation, major amputation, and 
prolonged ventilator dependent are to be collected. 
Keywords: peripheral vascular disease, sepsis, outcomes 
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3. Background
Prior research in this field
Sepsis and peripheral artery disease
According to annual statistics, the sepsis cost 5.2% in 2011 medical cost in the United States. 
Total $20 billions were cost for treatment of sepsis and its related medical conditions.1 In 
Taiwan, the medical expenditure of patients in the medical intensive care units also is very 
huge. The peripheral artery disease (PAD) is also prevalent in the elderly and in most 
situations under-diagnosed. In Taiwan, an accurate data on PAD prevalence is absent. According 
to the screening program in National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu branch, the prevalence 
of PAD among patients receiving hemodialysis is high (48-30%). Many patients do not receive 
screening and adequate care. 
Peripheral artery disease- its impact on the outcomes
Patients with PAD have four-fold increase in the risk of myocardial infarction and three-fold increase in the risk of 
stroke.2,3  
Medications for treatment of PAD
LEAD (lower extremity artery disease) is a subset of PAD. To date, there is no specific trial addressing the role of 
antiplatelet agents in the full spectrum of LEAD, including asymptomatic, intermittent claudication, and critical lower 
limb ischemia. 
COMPASS4
Rivaroxiban 5 mg bid
Rivaroxaban 2.5 mg bid with aspirin
Aspirin
Total 27402 patients 
with CAD or LEAD
To be reported
CAPRIE2
Clopidogrel 
Aspirin
Not focused on 
PAD
CASPAR5
CHARISMA6
Clopidogrel plus aspirin
Aspirin mono-therapy
Not focused on 
PAD
Fowkes, 20107
Aspirin for subclinical LEAD
Asymptomatic LEAD 
with ABI < 0.95
No benefit
Belch, 20088
Aspirin for subclinical diabetic LEAD
Asymptomatic LEAD in 
diabetic with ABI < 1.0
No benefit
Antithrombotic 
collaborative9
Aspirin for prevention of MACE
Symptomatic LEAD
Benefit
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Clinical needs
There are guidelines for treatment of sepsis and PAD. The diagnosis, treatment, 
and outcomes are well defined for sepsis and PAD, respectively. However, there 
is no consensus on the benefit of screening of PAD in patients presented with 
sepsis. The current diagnosis and treatment are clinically driven by patient’s 
new change in limb physical examinations. Usually, we initiate the work-up for 
PAD after toe cyanosis or frank gangrene occurre. 
4. Previous studies focusing on PAD in sepsis patients
There is a lack of dedicated research of PAD among patients presented with 
sepsis. With the search term “peripheral artery disease” and “critical 
care”, there is only one article on PAD and chronic obstructive pulmonary 
disease”.10 
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5. Goals of project 
Purpose (for clinicaltrials.gov registration) 
• Study type: interventional 
• Study Design: 
– Allocation: randomized– Endpoint classification: efficacy study– Intervention model: 
parallel– Masking: single blind (outcomes assessor) – Primary purpose: treatment 
• Official title: as the study project title 
Objectives
1.
Perform a screening for PAD among patients admitted to the medical intensive care units and meet the sepsis 
diagnosis criteria (quick SOFA score >=2 points). 
2.
Follow the outcomes (all cause mortality at 30 days, stroke, myocardial infarction, lower limb ischemia 
requiring amputation) of patients who have evidence of ABI < 0.9 or PAD by additional vascular Duplex 
confirmation. 
3.
To evaluate the prevalence of PAD among patients admitted to our intensive care units. 
4.
To obtain the diagnosis of PAD early on the admission day among multiple care teams (cardiologists, chest 
physicians, and critical care specialist) and to give adequate medical treatment as needed (anti-platelet agents). 
5.
To evaluate whether early diagnosis of PAD in sepsis patients will lead to decision-makings that will influence 
the patient’s survival. 
6.
To evaluate whether early diagnosis of PAD will lead to decreased complications rate of invasive arterial line 
monitoring. 
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6. Methods and procedures
Research design
1.
Research design: prospective cohort study
2.
Locations: the medical intensive care units (MICU) of National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsinchu Branch. 
Patient population: sepsis patients who meet the quick SOFA score >= 2 points. 
3.
The investigator is responsible of this research: Dr. Mu-Yang Hsieh. 
4.
Study parameters:
1.
The prevalence of PAD among patients admitted to the MICU with sepsis
2.
The outcomes of PAD patients presented with sepsis to the MICU
5.
Research field: critical care medicine, cardiovascular disease, peripheral artery disease
6.
Keywords: peripheral artery disease, sepsis
7.
Study design: observational study (cohort study) 
1.
Collection of data: prospective
2.
Inter rim analysis: yes 
3.
Investigator manual: yes
2.
Study population
1.
Patient number: 200 patients 
2.
Age limitation: 20-100 years old 
3.
Inclusion criteria: 
1.
Admission diagnosis with sepsis, meeting quick SOFA criteria >= 2 points (respiratory rate ≥22/min, altered 
mentation, systolic blood pressure ≤100 mmHg, each item is one point)
2.
Within the study age limitation
3.
Willing to participate the study
4.
Exclusion criteria:
1.
Declined to participate
2.
Children and adolescence with age < 20 years, criminal, aboriginal, pregnant women, psychiatric patient, 
students, colleagues, terminal patients, soldiers, 
3.
Cancer and receiving cancer treatment 
5.
Follow-up period: 3 months 
6.
Category of study: MICU study 
7.
Special conditions 
1.
No selection by patient gender
2.
No involvement of fetal or pregnancy study of medications
3.
No involvement of healthy volunteer
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4.
Special protection: MICU patients have ethical committee for palliative care, every patients will have family 
conference by care team with the family to provide diagnosis explanation, treatment options at the bedside 
or the meeting room.  Palliative care can be initiated anytime. 
5.
There is no radiation exposure in this study 
8.
No blood sampling
9.
Enrollment procedure
1.
No additional fund will be provided to the participant
2.
The enrollment began when the patient was admitted to the MICU
10. The risk of patients is considered equal either joining in or not in the study 
11. There is NO control group in this study
3.
Patient information security 
1.
The data security team of the hospital secures the patient data. The data is located in the REDCap database and 
secured by the Medical Information Team of the hospital. 
2.
The researcher can only download de-identified data from the REDCap database (redcap.hch.gov.tw). Only the 
principal investigator can obtain the full dataset. 
3.
The following protocols are provided to protect the patient personal information: 
1.
The patients can withdrawal the consent anytime. The data will be removed on patient or family’s request. 
There will be no compromise in the physician-patient relationship. 
4.
Enrollment
1.
The enrollment process involves the investigator, the physicians and the nurses in the MICU. 
2.
Timing of enrollment: before screen process: at the entrance/meeting room of the MICU, at the time of patient 
admission, with oral explanation of the study intent and study method (ABI measurements), estimated time of 
explanation: 5 minutes 
3.
After the oral consent obtaining, the ABI results will be provided and explained to the family
4.
Patient not speaking local language (Chinese, Taiwanese, Hakka Chinese) can still be enrolled, if physician can 
still communicate with English. If the communication is unsuccessful, the patient will no be enrolled. 
5.
Inform consent
1.
This research will not require a paper inform consent. Because this study has minimal risk for the study 
participant- the ABI study was non-invasive. And this study will be carried in the medical intensive care units, it 
is focused on emergency medicine. The patients with sepsis admitted to the MICU usually are already in a 
critical condition and there is a need to aggressively diagnose any disease that will lead to poor outcomes. The 
benefits of diagnosing a PAD early outweigh the risk carried by the study method. 
6.
The study method 
1.
After enrollment, within 24 hours: the nurse will measure the ankle-brachial index (ABI). The measurements are 
to be done by A-line at any arteries that physician considered appropriate and additional bilateral lower limb 
blood pressure measurements. A Doppler scanner is allowed to be used to facilitate the measurement of ABI. 
2.
The definition of ABI (ankle-brachial index): the leg systolic blood pressure divided by the higher readings of 
bilateral brachial artery. If ABI < 0.9, a diagnosis of PAD is made. 
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7.
The follow-up 
1.
At the time of admission: APACHE score
2.
The treatment patient received: ventilator, vasopressor, inotropic agent, blood pressure, and the diagnosis. 
3.
Patient will be followed at 7 days, 30 days, and 90 days. 
4.
Medications will be recorded, especially: aspirin (Bokey), cilostazol (Pletaal), clopidogrel (Plavix), statin. 
5.
Clinical events will be documented: 
1.
Mortality
2.
Acute myocardial infarction
3.
Stroke, ischemic
4.
Limb gangrene resulting in amputation
8.
Statistical method
1.
We plan to enroll 200 patients. Patients will be grouped into patients with PAOD and patients without 
PAOD. We then compare them in the following parameters: clinical data, laboratory data, survival and 
other outcome data. Two-sample student’s t tests will be used for the comparisons of continuous 
variables. Chi-square test will be used to detect difference between categorical variables. Difference is 
considered statistically significant if P < 0.05. All statistics works were analyzed using the SPSS 17.0 
software (Chicago, IL, USA), R software (Gimc packages).
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7. Anticipated results
1.
Evaluate the care process and quality in patients in the MICU
2.
Evaluate the prevalence of PAD in patients with sepsis admitted to the MICU
3.
Investigate the influence of PAD to the outcomes of sepsis
4.
Evaluate the intervention with ABI measurement efficacy: will it decrease the mortality after adequate screening?
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8. Study progress plan
Month
Item 
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Note
Enrollment
Patient follow-up
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9. Assignment of Researcher
Category
Name
Position
Actual role or contribution to the research project
Principal 
investigator
Mu-Yang 
Hsieh
Attending 
physician, 
Cardiovascular 
division, NTUH 
Hsinchu Branch
Research design, data analysis, report writing
Research 
staff
Mong-Lan 
Teng
Head nurse, 
MICU, NTUH 
Hsinchu Branch
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10. Reference
1.
Singer M, Deutschman CS, Seymour CW, et al. The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and 
Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA 2016;315:801-10.
2.
Committee CS. A randomised, blinded, trial of clopidogrel versus aspirin in patients at risk of ischaemic events 
(CAPRIE). CAPRIE Steering Committee. Lancet 1996;348:1329-39.
3.
Bhatt DL, Flather MD, Hacke W, et al. Patients with prior myocardial infarction, stroke, or symptomatic 
peripheral arterial disease in the CHARISMA trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007;49:1982-8.
4.
Anand SS, Bosch J, Eikelboom JW, et al. Rivaroxaban with or without aspirin in patients with stable peripheral 
or carotid artery disease: an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2017.
5.
Belch JJ, Dormandy J, Committee CW, et al. Results of the randomized, placebo-controlled clopidogrel and 
acetylsalicylic acid in bypass surgery for peripheral arterial disease (CASPAR) trial. J Vasc Surg 2010;52:825-
33, 33 e1-2.
6.
Cacoub PP, Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Topol EJ, Creager MA, Investigators C. Patients with peripheral arterial disease 
in the CHARISMA trial. Eur Heart J 2009;30:192-201.
7.
Fowkes FG, Price JF, Stewart MC, et al. Aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular events in a general population 
screened for a low ankle brachial index: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2010;303:841-8.
8.
Belch J, MacCuish A, Campbell I, et al. The prevention of progression of arterial disease and diabetes 
(POPADAD) trial: factorial randomised placebo controlled trial of aspirin and antioxidants in patients with 
diabetes and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease. BMJ 2008;337:a1840.
9.
Antithrombotic Trialists C. Collaborative meta-analysis of randomised trials of antiplatelet therapy for 
prevention of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in high risk patients. BMJ 2002;324:71-86.
10.
Houben-Wilke S, Jorres RA, Bals R, et al. Peripheral Artery Disease and Its Clinical Relevance in Patients with 
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the COPD and Systemic Consequences-Comorbidities Network 
Study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2017;195:189-97.
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