[Prevalence of chronic lower limb ischemia in a population attending a health center]

To evaluate the prevalence of chronic lower limb ischemia in a part of the population on care of the health center Les Borges Blanques (Lleida), a study of 305 subjects (131 males and 174 females over 59 years) who presented to the health center was carried out with case finding methodology. Chronic ischemia was detected in 27 patients (20 males and 7 females), with a 8.8% prevalence in males and 4% in females. The ratio was 4.5 times higher in males (p less than 0.001). A 40% of patients were aware of their disease; 44% had an adequate clinical control and 48% had intermittent claudication. It was concluded that the prevalence of the condition is high, with a good clinical control in less than one half of the patients. Early detection and adequate control of the patients is necessary.