Localisation and risk factors of peripheral arterial occlusive disease in the female

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease has been described frequently as a disease affecting predominantly men. There is only a few information available concerning peripheral vascular disease in the female. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine risk factors in relation to localisation and symptoms of peripheral arterial occlusive disease in female patients. A retrospective study has been performed in 48 female patients (52-82 years with a mean age 69.5 years). Finally 45 patients were witheld because they had all a doppler examination and an oscillography of the lower limbs. The majority of the patients, namely 22 patients (49%) had combined ileofemoral and distal lesions. There were 15 patients (33%) who had isolated distal lesions, while only 8 patients (18%) had isolated ileofemoral vascular lesions. With respect to the symptoms the population could be divided in three groups: 16 patients (36%) were asymptomatic, 19 patients (42%) had intermittent claudication and 10 patients (22%) had rest pain and necrosis. Smoking was not the predominant risk factor in this group. Diabetes mellitus seemed to enhance distal vascular lesions, while arterial hypertension, obesity and lipids were predictive risk factors in peripheral vascular disease in the female. A high incidence of cardiovascular disease (31 patients, 69%) and cerebrovascular disease (13 patients, 29%) was concomitant.