Association between cardiovascular disease and peripheral arterial disease implications for patient safety

Currently, there is insufficient evidence available to fully understand the correlation between cardiovascular disease(CVD) and peripheral arterial disease(PAD). The association between CVD and PAD holds significant importance within the realms of both healthcare and public health.The primary aim of this study is to elucidate the impact of CVD on PAD and to examine the examine the clinical implications of this association for preventive strategies.

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted, encompassing 6123 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the United States spanning the years 1999 to 2004. Data on demographics including age, gender, race, education level, marital status, poverty income ratio, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, total cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), hypertension and diabetes status were collected from all participants. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to quantify the independent association between CVD and PAD risk while adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical confounders.

The mean age of the selected participants was 59.9 ± 13.0 years, with 51.2% of them being male. Multivariable analysis revealed a clinically significant 54% increase in PAD risk among CVD patients (adjusted OR = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.20-1.99; P = 0.001), indicating a strong positive association. Subgroup analyses testing age (< 65/≥65 years), sex, educational level, marital status, poverty income ratio, physical activity, smoking status, hypertension and diabetes status showed no effect modification (all P-interaction > 0.05).

This analysis has demonstrated a notable link between CVD and the likelihood of developing PAD, independent of other influencing factors. These results highlight the necessity of focusing on cardiovascular health to prevent the onset of PAD.