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Frequency of non-vascular accompanying diseases in patients with peripheral arterial disease

H Heidrich1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Franziskus-Krankenhaus, Berlin, Germany. Prof.Heidrich@web.de

VASA. Zeitschrift Fur Gefasskrankheiten
|October 6, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients frequently have non-vascular comorbidities. This study highlights the high prevalence of conditions like heart disease and diabetes in PAD patients, emphasizing the need for comprehensive care.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Limited data exists on the prevalence of non-vascular diseases in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
  • Understanding comorbidity frequency is crucial for effective PAD patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of various non-vascular comorbidities in patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
  • To provide data for systematic, interdisciplinary diagnostic approaches in PAD patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 1693 patients (mean age 68.6 years) with Fontaine stage II-IV PAD.
  • Examination for cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, hematological, endocrine, neurological, orthopedic, urological-nephrological, psychiatric diseases, and tumors.

Main Results:

  • High prevalence of coronary ischemic heart disease (63.1%), hypertension (57.9%), and endocrine/metabolic diseases (60.4%).
  • Significant rates of heart failure (20.7%), orthopedic diseases (21.6%), and psychological deficiencies (16.2%) were observed.
  • Other notable comorbidities include gastrointestinal (14.8%), pulmonary (14.5%), and urological diseases (16.9%).

Conclusions:

  • Non-vascular comorbidities are highly frequent in PAD patients.
  • Systematic interdisciplinary diagnosis is essential before treatment decisions.
  • Consideration of associated diseases, life expectancy, and quality of life is critical for PAD management.
Abstract

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