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Risk factors of peripheral arterial occlusive disease: a case-control study in Greece
Y Skalkidis1, K Katsouyanni, E Petridou
1Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens Medical School, Greece.
Insights
Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) risk factors identified include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, heavy alcohol, and coffee consumption. These significantly increase the likelihood of developing PAOD.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is a significant manifestation of atherosclerosis.
- Understanding the etiological factors of PAOD is crucial for public health.
- Comparing PAOD risk factors with other atherosclerotic conditions like coronary heart disease (CHD) can provide unique insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and quantify independent risk factors for peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).
- To compare the etiological importance of atherosclerotic factors in PAOD versus conditions with higher short-term fatality.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed in Athens, Greece.
- 100 PAOD patients (cases) and controls requiring minor surgery were recruited.
- Data collection involved interviews and recording of blood pressure and glucose, analyzed via multiple logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Tobacco smoking, elevated systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, heavy alcohol consumption, and excessive coffee intake were identified as strong independent risk factors for PAOD.
- These factors demonstrated an eight-fold or greater increase in risk.
- PAOD highlighted the etiological importance of atherosclerotic factors, distinct from conditions with higher short-term fatality.
Conclusions:
- Lifestyle and metabolic factors play a critical role in the development of PAOD.
- PAOD serves as a valuable model for studying the atherosclerotic process due to its lower short-term fatality.
- Targeting modifiable risk factors like smoking, hypertension, and diabetes is essential for PAOD prevention and management.
Abstract:
A case-control study concerning peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) was conducted in Athens, Greece. The case series consisted of 100 patients with PAOD as principle diagnosis admitted consecutively to a major teaching hospital in Athens during an 18-month period. The controls were patients hospitalized in the same hospital during the same period as the index cases for conditions requiring minor surgical care. All cases and controls were interviewed by the same person about several socioeconomic, demographic and medical variables; blood pressure and blood glucose values were also recorded. Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression procedures, controlling for age, sex and years of schooling. Tobacco smoking, systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, heavy alcohol drinking and excessive coffee consumption were all strong independent risk factors with eight-fold or more differences in risk. It appears that PAOD as an atherosclerotic disease with low short-term fatality reveals in more contrasting terms the aetiological importance of factors involved in the atherosclerotic process as compared to atherosclerotic conditions with higher short-term fatality like coronary heart disease (CHD) which may also have stronger thrombotic components.