Risk factors for symptomatic peripheral arterial disease in older persons in an academic hospital-based geriatrics practice.

Abstract

To investigate risk factors for symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in older persons. A retrospective analysis of charts from all older persons seen from January 1, 1998, through June 15, 1999, at an academic, hospital-based geriatrics practice. An academic, hospital-based geriatrics practice staffed by fellows in a geriatrics training program and full-time faculty geriatricians. A total of 467 men, mean age 80 +/- 8 years, and 1444 women, mean age 81 +/- 8 years, were included in the study. Symptomatic PAD was present in 93 of 467 men (20%) and in 191 of 1444 women (13%) (P = .001). Significant risk factors for symptomatic PAD by univariate analysis were: age (P = .021 in women); cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, serum total cholesterol, serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (inverse association), and serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P < .001 in men and women); obesity (P = .013 in men and .002 in women); and serum triglycerides (P = .027 in women). Significant independent risk factors for symptomatic PAD by stepwise logistic regression analysis were: age (odds ratio = 1.052 in men and 1.025 in women); cigarette smoking (odds ratio = 2.552 in men and 4.634 in women); hypertension (odds ratio = 2.196 in men and 2.777 in women); diabetes mellitus (odds ratio = 6.054 in men and 3.594 in women); serum HDL cholesterol (odds ratio = .948 in men and .965 in women); and serum LDL cholesterol (odds ratio = 1.019 in men and women). Significant independent risk factors for symptomatic PAD in older men and women were age, cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, serum HDL cholesterol (inverse association), and serum LDL cholesterol.