The contribution of cardiovascular risk factors to peripheral arterial disease in South Asians and Blacks: a sub-study to the Ethnic-Echocardiographic Heart of England Screening (E-ECHOES) study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether differences exist in prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) between South Asians (people originating from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) and Blacks (Black Caribbean and Black African), the two largest minority ethnic groups in the UK. To determine if associations with cardiovascular risk factors and this disease differ between these two ethnic groups.


METHODS
We recruited 572 patients (356 South Asian and 216 Blacks) > or = 45 years as a sub-study to a community screening project, the Ethnic-Echocardiographic Heart of England Screening (E-ECHOES) study. All subjects completed an interviewer-led questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and blood sampling. Ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) was calculated and intermittent claudication was assessed using the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire. The presence of PAD was defined as ABPI <0.9.


RESULTS
The mean age was 62 years overall with no difference between the two ethnic groups. The prevalence of PAD was 13.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 9.7-16.7] in South Asians and 10.2% (95% CI 6.2-14.2) in Blacks with no significant difference between the two ethnic groups. The prevalence of PAD was higher in South Asian women than Black women (16.3 vs. 6.1%; P = 0.011). No difference in prevalence was found in men (11 vs. 14% P = 0.47, in South Asians and Blacks, respectively). The prevalence of intermittent claudication was 0.9% (95% CI 0.11-1.63). On multivariate logistic regression, mean systolic blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and male sex were independently associated with PAD in South Asians (P = 0.016, 0.022, 0.037 and 0.008, respectively). In Blacks, only age remained independently associated with PAD on multivariate logistic regression (P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of PAD is similar in South Asians and Blacks, and similar to levels reported in pre-dominantly White populations. South Asian women had a higher prevalence of PAD than Black women, which is not explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Bennett
P C
PC
Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B18 7QH, UK.
Lip
G Y H
GY
Silverman
S
S
Blann
A D
AD
Gill
P S
PS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors