Incidence and management of intermittent claudication in primary care in The Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE
To study the incidence and management of intermittent claudication in primary care.


METHODS
In a longitudinal survey among 161 general practitioners (GPs) all incident diagnoses of intermittent claudication (IC) were selected and available information on GP management was studied.


METHODS
Dutch National Survey of Morbidity and Interventions in General Practice.


METHODS
74153 patients aged 55 years and over.


METHODS
Age- and sex-specific incidence rates.


RESULTS
The overall incidence rate of IC was 6.4 per 1000 person years (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.3-7.7). Incidence rate in creased from 4.0 per 1000 person years in men aged 55-59 to 12.9 per 1000 person years in men aged over 85, and for women in the same age categories from 3.3 per 1000 person years to 8.2 per 1000 person years, respectively. Of the 117 incident cases of IC, 43 (37%) were referred to a hospital specialist. In 55 cases (47%), drugs were prescribed by the GP and in 101 cases (86%) the GP gave advice, notably pertaining to exercise and cessation of smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence rate of IC in primary care is high in both men and women, and clearly increases with age. Only a minority of patients are referred to a hospital specialist, while the vast majority receive lifestyle advice.
Meijer
Wouter T
WT
Department of General Practice, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Cost
Ben
B
Bernsen
Roos M D
RM
Hoes
Arno W
AW
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D020445:Hospitalists; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011159:Population Surveillance; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution