Serum lipids and anthropometric factors related to the prevalence of intermittent claudication.
OBJECTIVE
To study serum lipids, body mass index (BMI), and body shape in relation to intermittent claudication (IC) in 19,748 men and women 40-69 years of age.


METHODS
All residents (1995-1997) in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway, were invited to attend the cross sectional study and received a Norwegian translation of the WHO/Rose questionnaire on intermittent claudication and the Edinburgh claudication questionnaire. Blood lipids and anthropometric data were measured at a consecutive examination. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated for associations with IC by multiple regression analysis.


RESULTS
The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol (TC/HDL cholesterol) (P trend(men)=.023; P trend(women)<.001) and triglycerides (P trend(men)=.029; P trend(women)=.002) were positively associated with the prevalence of IC. HDL cholesterol was negatively (P trend(men)=.131; P trend(women)<.001) associated, whereas BMI (P trend(women)=.032), waist circumference (P trend(women)=.021), and hip circumference (P trend(women)=.020) were positively associated with IC in women, but not in men. Adjustment for smoking, diabetes, and systolic or diastolic blood pressure did not change the results.


CONCLUSIONS
TC/HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were positively, and HDL cholesterol negatively associated with IC in both genders. In women, but not in men, BMI, waist and hip circumference were positively associated with IC.
Jensen
S A
SA
Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, University Medical Center, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway.
Vatten
L J
LJ
Nilsen
T I L
TI
Romundstad
P R
PR
Myhre
H O
HO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides