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Peripheral arterial disease in the elderly: The Rotterdam Study
W T Meijer1, A W Hoes, D Rutgers
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus University Medical School, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
|March 4, 1998
Summary
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common in older adults, affecting 19.1%, but symptoms of intermittent claudication (IC) are rare. Most PAD patients do not experience IC symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication (IC) are significant health concerns in aging populations.
- Understanding the prevalence and relationship between PAD and IC is crucial for effective public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the age- and sex-specific prevalence of PAD and IC in individuals aged 55 and over.
- To investigate the association between PAD and IC symptoms in the elderly population.
Main Methods:
- A population-based study involving 7715 subjects aged 55+.
- PAD diagnosed by ankle-arm systolic blood pressure index (AAI <0.90).
- IC assessed using the World Health Organization/Rose questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Overall PAD prevalence was 19.1% (16.9% in men, 20.5% in women).
- IC prevalence was 1.6% (2.2% in men, 1.2% in women).
- Only 6.3% of PAD patients reported IC symptoms; 68.9% of IC patients had PAD.
Conclusions:
- PAD is highly prevalent in the elderly, increasing with age.
- IC symptoms are relatively uncommon in the elderly, despite high PAD rates.
- The majority of individuals with PAD do not exhibit IC symptoms.