Global epidemiology of lower extremity artery disease in the 21st century (2000-21): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

The epidemiology of lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) is evolving. This meta-analysis of aggregate data aimed to (i) determine the global prevalence of LEAD and by regions in the 21st century and (ii) update the associated risk factors in this period. A systematic literature review was performed through PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases, restricted to general population studies between January 2000 and September 2021, with LEAD defined by a low (</≤0.90) ankle-brachial index. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the articles before data extraction. Due to high heterogeneity, the random effect model was applied to this meta-analysis. Among 1418 references, 38 studies (127 961 participants) were retained. The global prevalence in adults, mostly ≥40 years, was estimated at 9.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.1-12.4], higher in women (10.2%) than in men (8.8%), increasing sharply with age. The highest prevalence was found in South-Central Asia (14.5%) and the lowest in North America (5.6%). Significant associations were found between LEAD and current [odds ratio (OR) = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.4-2.5] and past smoking (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.3-1.9) and between LEAD and diabetes (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 2.0-2.8). Hypertension was significantly associated with LEAD (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.9-2.8) and in particular in South America (OR = 4.0). Obesity (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.8) and hypercholesterolaemia ≥200 mg/dL (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3-2.8) were also significantly associated with LEAD. This meta-analysis highlights a currently high prevalence of LEAD worldwide, with substantial differences in global regions and between sexes. The strongest associations were found with metabolic risk factors.