Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease and Associated Vascular Risk Factors in 65-Years-Old People of Northern Barcelona

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Northern Barcelona at 65 years of age. Methods: A single-center, cross-sectional study, including males and females 65 years of age, health care cardholders of Barcelona Nord. PAD was defined as an ankle–brachial index (ABI) < 0.9. Attending subjects were evaluated for a history of common cardiovascular risk factors. A REGICOR score was obtained, as well as a physical examination and anthropometric measurements. Results: From November 2017 to December 2018, 1174 subjects were included: 479 (40.8%) female and 695 (59.2%) male. Overall prevalence of PAD was 6.2% (95% CI: 4.8–7.6%), being 7.9% (95% CI: 5.9–9.9%) in males and 3.8% (95% CI: 2.1–5.5%) in females. An independent strong association was seen in male smokers and diabetes, with ORs pf 7.2 (95% CI: 2.8–18.6) and 1.8 (95% CI: 1.0–3.3), respectively, and in female smokers and hypertension, with ORs of 5.2 (95% CI: 1.6–17.3) and 3.3 (95% CI: 1.2–9.0). Male subjects presented with higher REGICOR scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Higher-risk groups are seen in male subjects with a history of smoking and diabetes and female smokers and arterial hypertension, becoming important subgroups for our primary healthcare centers and should be considered for ABI screening programs.

Cardiometabolic profile of 15057 elderly Spanish workers: association of sociodemographic variables and tobacco consumption

“…This indicates an almost 76% higher probability of suffering a cardiovascular event among smokers, thereby consolidating the need to give up smoking. This association between smoking and CVR is consistent with that published in other studies, with a strong association between smoking and CVR [ 60 , 61 ].…”

Now Is the Time to Bring a Common but Unpopular Noncommunicable Disease into Focus: Peripheral Arterial Disease Takes Limbs and Lives, but It Must Also Touch Our Hearts!

“…Interestingly, almost every risk factor on that list was also very common in patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and, more recently, the disease itself has been identified as a major independent prognostic factor for adverse outcomes [ 1 ]. This adds to earlier studies reporting that PAD patients had four times the risk of suffering from severe acute respiratory failure when they became infected with the seasonal flu while the vaccination rates were far lower than the recommendations from the WHO [ 2 , 3 ]. Beyond infection risks, undertreatment is a general issue in this target population regarding patient education and appropriate secondary prevention.…”

Smoking as a risk factor for lower extremity peripheral artery disease in women compared to men: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Thirteen studies were cross-sectional (published between 2000 and 2023, 230,436 participants, 59.9% women) [ 14 – 19 , 23 – 29 ]. Nine of these defined PAD as ABI of < or ≤0.9 [ 14 , 16 – 18 , 23 , 24 , 26 – 28 ] including one study which also classified those with intermittent claudication according to the WHO/Rose questionnaire (regardless of ABI) as PAD [ 27 ]. Two studies used ultrasound to identify stenosis, occlusion, or plaque [ 19 , 29 ].…”