The prevalence of intermittent claudication. Sex-related differences have been eliminated.
OBJECTIVE
to investigate the prevalence of intermittent claudication (IC) in an unselected population of nearly 20000 individuals between 40 and 69 years of age.


METHODS
epidemiologic investigation of residents in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway.


METHODS
between 1995 and 1997, all residents 20 years of age or older in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway, were invited to attend the HUNT Study. A total of 19748 participants between 40 and 69 years of age responded to questions related to the symptoms of intermittent claudication. We estimated the prevalence of IC based on these questions.


RESULTS
the age-adjusted prevalence of intermittent claudication in the total population was 1.1% for men and 1.2% for women. We found an increase in the prevalence of IC by age, however, no sex differences were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
the prevalence of intermittent claudication increased gradually by age. However, in contrast to previous reports, there was no difference by sex.
Jensen
S A
SA
Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University Medical Center, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway.
Vatten
L J
LJ
Romundstad
P R
PR
Myhre
H O
HO
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors