[Prognostic value of inflammatory markers and lipid profile in patients suffering from intermittent claudication - a...

To analyse clinical and serological variables (lipid profile, inflammatory biomarkers) as potential risk factors for the development of short-term cardiovascular events and mortality in patients suffering from intermittent claudication.

We included all patients with a first-time diagnosis of vascular intermittent claudication in our center during 2005-2006. We analysed clinical data, serological parameters (creatinine, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, ApolipoproteinA1, ApolipoproteinB100, lipoprotein(a), homocysteine, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], fibrinogen), cardiovascular events and mortality during 1-3 year follow-up.

We included 162 patients: 143 (88.3%) men, mean (SD) age 66 (10.4) (41-86) years, 76 (46.9%) active smokers, 96 (59.3%) hypertensive, 56 (34.6%) diabetic, 129 (79.6%) hypercholesterolemic. We registered 16 (9.9%) coronary/cerebrovascular events, 18 (11.1%) lower limb vascular events and 9 (5.9%) late deaths during follow-up (mean [SD] 18.2 [8] months). Hypertension was the only predictor of coronary or cerebrovascular events (p=0.013); heart disease and HDL-cholesterol<45 mg/dL were independent risk factors for lower limb vascular events (p=0.021 and 0.049), and ESR>20 mm/h was associated with all-cause death (p=0.008).

Reduced HDL-cholesterol and elevated ESR have emerged as independent risk factors for short-term lower limb vascular events and death.