title: Prevalence of asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease and related risk factors in younger and elderly patients in Taiwan.
abstract: We determined the prevalence of asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and cardiovascular risk factors in Taiwan. Ambulatory participants (n = 1915) without symptoms of PAD were enrolled (mean age of 61.2 years). The ankle-brachial index (ABI) was used to detect the PAD (ABI < 0.90). The overall prevalence of asymptomatic PAD was 5.4% (2.8% in the younger participants [<65 years of age, n = 1021] and 8.4% in the elderly participants [≥65 years of age, n = 894]). Younger participants with asymptomatic PAD had a significantly higher rate of hypertension (55.2% vs 30%) and obesity (31% vs 13.3%) than those without asymptomatic PAD (P < .05). Elderly participants with asymptomatic PAD had a significantly higher rate of diabetes mellitus (36% vs 21.2%) and hypertension (69.3% vs 55.4%) than those without asymptomatic PAD (P < .05). Asymptomatic PAD is prevalent among elderly Taiwanese individuals. Overall, age was the strongest risk factor for the development of asymptomatic PAD.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Internal Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-Shian
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kun-Yen
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Cheng-Ren
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chuan-Mu
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Taiwan; cardiovascular risk factors; diabetes mellitus; elderly; hypertension; peripheral arterial disease