Prevalence and risk factors of lower extremity disease in high risk groups in Malawi: a stratified cross-sectional study

Low/middle-income countries face a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular diseases. However, among cardiovascular diseases, burden of and associations with lower extremity disease (LED) (peripheral arterial disease and/or neuropathy) is neglected. We investigated the prevalence and factors associated with LED among individuals known to have cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVDRFs) in Malawi, a low-income country with a significant prevalence of CVDRFs.

This was a stratified cross-sectional study.

This study was conducted in urban Lilongwe Area 25, and the rural Karonga Health and Demographic Surveillance Site.

Participants were at least 18 years old and had been identified to have two or more known CVDRFs.

LED-determined by the presence of one of the following: neuropathy (as assessed by a 10 g monofilament), arterial disease (absent peripheral pulses, claudication as assessed by the Edinburgh claudication questionnaire or Ankle Brachial Pulse Index (ABPI) <0.9), previous amputation or ulceration of the lower limbs.

There were 806 individuals enrolled into the study. Mean age was 52.5 years; 53.5% of participants were men (n=431) and 56.7% (n=457) were from the rural site. Nearly a quarter (24.1%; 95% CI: 21.2 to 27.2) of the participants had at least one symptom or sign of LED. 12.8% had neuropathy, 6.7% had absent pulses, 10.0% had claudication, 1.9% had ABPI <0.9, 0.9% had an amputation and 1.1% had lower limb ulcers. LED had statistically significant association with increasing age, urban residence and use of indoor fires.

This study demonstrated that a quarter of individuals with two or more CVDRFs have evidence of LED and 2.4% have an amputation or signs of limb threatening ulceration or amputation. Further epidemiological and health systems research is warranted to prevent LED and limb loss.