Prevalence of Lower-Extremity Disease in the U.S. Adult Population ≥40 Years of Age With and Without Diabetes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—Although lower-extremity disease (LED), which includes lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and peripheral neuropathy (PN), is disabling and costly, no nationally representative estimates of its prevalence exist. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of lower-extremity PAD, PN, and overall LED in the overall U.S. population and among those with and without diagnosed diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The analysis consisted of data for 2,873 men and women aged ≥40 years, including 419 with diagnosed diabetes, from the 1999–2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The main outcome measures consisted of the prevalence of lower-extremity PAD (defined as ankle-brachial index <0.9), PN (defined as ≥1 insensate area based on monofilament testing), and of any LED (defined as either PAD, PN, or history of foot ulcer or lower-extremity amputations). RESULTS—Of the U.S. population aged ≥40 years, 4.5% (95% CI 3.4–5.6) have lower-extremity PAD, 14.8% (12.8–16.8) have PN, and 18.7% (15.9–21.4) have any LED. Prevalence of PAD, PN, and overall LED increases steeply with age and is higher (P < 0.05) in non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans than non-Hispanic whites. The prevalence of LEDs is approximately twice as high for individuals with diagnosed diabetes (PAD 9.5% [5.5–13.4]; PN 28.5% [22.0–35.1]; any LED 30.2% [22.1–38.3]) as the overall population. CONCLUSIONS—LED is common in the U.S. and twice as high among individuals with diagnosed diabetes. These conditions disproportionately affect the elderly, non-Hispanic blacks, and Mexican Americans.

Automated determination of the ankle-brachial index using an oscillometric blood pressure monitor: validation vs. Doppler measurement and cardiovascular risk factor profile

“…23 Clairotte et al 12 recently validated oscillometric ABI measurement in diabetic patients and reported lower correlation coefficients (r¼0.49 vs. 0.60) and higher differences between the two methods (0.03±0.25 vs. 0.01±0.28) in diabetics compared with non-diabetics. In contrast, the findings of this study did not differ with regard to the presence of diabetes, and the diagnostic performance of the oscillometric method was similar in diabetics and non-diabetics.…”

Diabetes and obesity are the main metabolic drivers of peripheral neuropathy

“…Peripheral neuropathy is a highly prevalent condition, particularly in older populations 1, 2, 3. This disease affects patients by causing pain, decreased quality of life, falls, ulcerations, and amputations 3, 4, 5.…”

Automated oscillometric determination of the ankle-brachial index: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…1 In particular, PAD is a strong predictor of subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as a result of concomitant coronary artery and cerebrovascular disease. 1,2 Patients with PAD have a threefold higher risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and death than those without PAD. 3 As a consequence of the Western lifestyle, the prevalence of PAD is high in industrialized countries.…”

“…The symptoms of PAD include intermittent claudication or rest pain. 1 However, more than 50% of PAD patients are symptomless. 4 Thus, PAD remains largely underdiagnosed and undertreated.…”