# Surfactant protein-D is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in men with peripheral artery disease diagnosed by population-based screening

## TL;DR

High levels of surfactant protein-D in men with peripheral artery disease are linked to a higher risk of all-cause mortality, independent of other factors.

## Contribution

This study identifies surfactant protein-D as an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in men with PAD.

## Key findings

- High SP-D levels were associated with increased all-cause mortality in men with PAD.
- SP-D was not linked to major adverse cardiovascular or limb events.
- The association remained significant after adjusting for other risk factors.

## Abstract

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common condition caused by atherosclerosis, which leads to reduced blood flow to the limbs. PAD is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major adverse limb events (MALE). Surfactant protein-D (SP-D) is a defense lectin expressed in the lungs and vasculature and has been previously associated with PAD.

We aimed to examine the prognostic value of plasma SP-D in relation to MACE, MALE, and all-cause mortality in 913 men with PAD diagnosed through population-based screening. The cohort was divided into low plasma SP-D (<420.4 ng/ml) and high SP-D (≥420.4 ng/ml) based on the 95th percentile of baseline measurements. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

SP-D was not associated with MACE or MALE. All-cause mortality was significantly increased in the high SP-D group compared with the low SP-D group (31.1% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.003), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.40 (1.36–4.24), p = 0.003, over a mean follow-up period of 5.2 ± 1 years.

SP-D is not associated with MALE and MACE but is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in men with PAD diagnosed through population-based screening.