Relationship between education and atherosclerotic disease risk factors in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether different levels of education are associated with different atherosclerotic disease risk factors.


METHODS
The cross-sectional study, involving 388 consecutive patients with verified peripheral arterial disease, was performed in Belgrade. Formal education level was used as a proxy for socioeconomic status. Anthropometric parameters and data on cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed in participants with different levels of education. In the analysis, univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used.


RESULTS
Multivariate analysis showed that low education was significantly positively related to alcohol consumption (Odds Ratio - OR, 4.67; 95% confidence interval - CI, 1.80-12.12), increased triglycerides (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.13-6.61), and physical activity during work (OR, 43.10; 95% CI 14.37-129.28), and negatively related to former smoking (OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.03-0.46) and sports and leisure - time physical activity (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04-0.41 and OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.11-0.57). Medium education was significantly positively related to increased triglycerides (OR, 1.74; 95% CI 1.01-2.98) and increased LDL-cholesterol (OR 2.37; 95% CI, 1.35-4.18), and to physical activity during work (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.34-3.67), and negatively related to age (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.98) and leisure - time physical activity (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.30-0.74).


CONCLUSIONS
It can be concluded that if there are differences in the risk of the occurrence of peripheral arterial disease by education status, they could be only partly explained by differences in the observed atherosclerotic disease risk factors.
Maksimovic
M
M
Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, School of Medicine, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia. milosmaksimovic71@gmail.com
Vlajinac
H
H
Radak
D
D
Marinkovic
J
J
Maksimovic
J
J
Jorga
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009790:Occupations; D016017:Odds Ratio; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D012923:Social Class; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides