Factors Predicting Noncompliance with Follow-up after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Background Although the potential for complications after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) mandates lifetime follow-up, noncompliance with follow-up has been shown to be as high as 57%. We sought to investigate the incidence of noncompliance with follow-up in our patient population and to identify risk factors associated with this to allow implementation of targeted strategies to prevent loss to follow-up. Methods We carried out a review of consecutive patients undergoing EVAR at 2 Sydney hospitals between 1995 and 2015. Patients noncompliant with standard follow-up were compared with a control group of compliant patients. Data collected included baseline clinical characteristics, perioperative complications, and postoperative complications, as well as distance from treating centers. Results During the study period, 1,482 patients underwent EVAR, of which 338 patients (22.8%) were not compliant with follow-up. Patients noncompliant with follow-up were significantly more likely to be younger, have hypertension, and be current smokers. Patients who did not attend follow-up were also significantly more likely to be from a non–English-speaking background (28.4 vs. 17.9%; P  = 0.01) and live closer to the treating institution (109 ± 151.5 vs. 150 ± 208.34 km; P  = 0.01). Conclusions Follow-up after EVAR remains suboptimal. The present study serves to demonstrate that several factors, especially current smoking and a non–English-speaking background, are associated with poor compliance with follow-up after EVAR in our patient population and represent a potential area of intervention to improve compliance.