title: Risk factors and cardiovascular diseases associated with asymptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The Limburg PAOD Study. Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the risk-factor profile and cardiovascular comorbidity of asymptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey. Asymptomatic PAOD was defined as an ankle-brachial pressure index < 0.95, measured on two consecutive occasions, without intermittent claudication. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate independent associations between age, gender, smoking status, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, physical activity, a family history of cardiovascular disease, the occurrence of ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) and asymptomatic PAOD.
  
  
  METHODS
  18 general practices in the province of Limburg, the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 3650 subjects, aged 40-78 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asymptomatic PAOD was present in 8.6% (n = 314) and symptomatic disease in 3.8% (n = 138) of the participants. Age, smoking status, hypertension, and diabetes were significantly associated with asymptomatic PAOD. The ratio of asymptomatic to symptomatic PAOD was higher among the younger age groups. Male gender, hypertension and smoking status were stronger associated with symptomatic PAOD compared with asymptomatic PAOD. Asymptomatic subjects had more IHD and CeVD comorbidity compared with the healthy population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the risk-factor profile and cardiovascular comorbidity of asymptomatic subjects is comparable to claudicants. Preventive efforts could be made to diminish the influence of especially smoking, diabetes and hypertension in asymptomatic subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hooi
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Stoffers
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kester
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Rinkens
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van Ree
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Knottnerus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires