title: Relationship between sociodemographic, anthropometric and biochemical characteristics and degree of peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a severe atherosclerotic condition. The relationship between various risk factors and severity of PAD, measured by Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), has been the subject of a relatively small number of studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there was any relationship between severity of PAD, expressed as ABI, and anthropometric, clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients, including inflammatory markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study, involving 388 consecutive patients with verified PAD, was performed at the Dedinje Vascular Surgery Clinic in Belgrade. The diagnosis of PAD was defined by Doppler sonography as ABI < 0.9, and by symptoms. Data on cardiovascular risk factors, anthropometric parameters, clinical and biochemical characteristics were collected for all participants. In the analysis, chi2 test, t-test and multivariate logistic regressions were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the results of multivariate analysis (the model of which included age, percentage of body fat, average value of uric acid, high sensitivity C-reactive protein--hsCRP > or = 3 mg/L, fibrinogen > or = 4 g/L, Baecke index of physical activity at work and Baecke index of leisure-time physical activity), the patients with more severe form of peripheral arterial disease (ABI < or = 0.40) had more frequently increased high sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.002), lower Baecke index of physical activity at work (p = 0.050) and lower Baecke index of leisure-time physical activity (p = 0.024). Average value of body fat was significantly higher in the patients with a less severe form of disease (p = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results obtained, the increased values of hsCRP and physical inactivity are associated with a more severe form of PAD (ABI < or = 0.40).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. milosmaksimovic71@gmail.com
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maksimović
authors.forename: Hristina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vlajinac
authors.forename: Djordje
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Radak
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marinković
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Djurisić
authors.forename: Jagoda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jorga
mesh_terms: D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein