Related Experiment Videos
Association between plasma homocysteine and peripheral arterial disease in older persons
1Hebrew Hospital Home, Bronx, New York 10475, USA.
Insights
High homocysteine and low folate levels are risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in older adults. This study highlights their independent association with the condition.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a growing concern in aging populations.
- Elevated plasma homocysteine levels are recognized as a potential risk factor for PAD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate concentrations and PAD prevalence.
- To identify independent risk factors for PAD in an elderly cohort.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design.
- Involved 158 men and 362 women (mean age 81 years).
- Assessed plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate levels in relation to PAD.
Main Results:
- Univariate analysis indicated homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate were associated with PAD.
- Stepwise logistic regression identified high plasma homocysteine (OR=1.125) and low plasma folate (OR=0.709) as independent risk factors.
- Significant P-values (P=0.0001) underscore the statistical importance of these findings.
Conclusions:
- Elevated plasma homocysteine is a significant independent risk factor for PAD in older adults.
- Low plasma folate concentrations are also identified as a significant independent risk factor for PAD.
- These findings suggest potential targets for PAD prevention and management in the elderly.
Background:
Plasma homocysteine is a risk factor for peripheral arterial disease.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional study design we investigated the association between plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate concentrations, and the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in 158 men and 362 women, mean age 81 +/- 8 years.
Results:
Univariate analysis showed that plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12 (inverse association) and folate (inverse association) concentrations and increased plasma homocysteine and low or indeterminate vitamin B12 concentrations were risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in older men and women. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis showed that significant independent risk factors for peripheral arterial disease were a greater value of plasma homocysteine (P = 0.0001; odds ratio = 1.125) and a low value of plasma folate (P = 0.0001; odds ratio = 0.709).
Conclusions:
High plasma concentrations of homocysteine and low plasma concentrations of folate are significant independent risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in older men and women.