title: Relationship of obesity distribution and peripheral arterial occlusive disease in elderly men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationships between total body fatness and abdominal fat distribution with peripheral arterial disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based sample of 708 men aged 55-74.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body mass index (BMI) to estimate total body fatness and waist-to-hip ratio for abdominal fat distribution; peripheral arterial disease defined by ankle/brachial index <0.9; cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peripheral arterial disease was observed in 13.4% of subjects. BMI did not correlate with peripheral arterial disease, whereas an increased waist-to-hip ratio over 0.966 (median value) doubled the prevalence of arterial disease. After controlling for smoking, diabetes, hypertension, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, increased waist-to-hip ratio was independently associated with peripheral arterial disease (odds ratio 1.68; 95% confidence interval 1.05-2.70).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abdominal fat distribution, but not total body fatness, is associated with peripheral arterial occlusive disease, independently of concurrent cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Pubilla Casas Primary Health Center, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Planas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clará
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pou
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vidal-Barraquer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasol
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Moner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marrugat
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors