title: Asymptomatic carotid stenosis in patients with intermittent claudication: epidemiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to determine the prevalence of extracraneal carotid artery disease in patients with intermittent claudication, to describe classic cardiovascular risk factors in those with hemodynamically significant stenosis and to try to define subgroups at high risk, improving therefore the performance of non invasive testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective descriptive study was conducted, with 146 patients reporting an intermittent claudication of the lower limbs and without a previous cerebrovascular event or carotid surgery. An ultrasonography examination was done. Risk factors were registed (smoking, dislipemia, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus), also ischemic cardiopathy and myocardial revascularization procedures. Univariate and multivariate analysis was made to define the variables associated with hemodynamically significant stenosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of hemodynamically significant stenosis was 23.2%. Smoking, dislipemia, arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not significantly associated with carotid stenosis; 24.2% of patients affected of ischemic cardiopathy present a severe stenosis, and myocardial revascularization was a risk factor for carotid stenosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with claudication and ischemic miocardiopathy, especially when myocardial revascularization is needed, must be explored with carotid ultrasonography. In this patients, probably of hemodynamically significant carotid stenosis that requires treatment is more frequent.
authors: Hospital de Cabueñes, Gijon, Spain. mjrgallo@hotmail.com
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Ramos
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: González-Fajardo
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Vaquero-Puerta
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vallina-Victorero
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vicente-Santiago
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Vaquero-Lorenzo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Alvarez-Salgado
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Alvarez-Fernandez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography