title: The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in middle-aged people with intellectual disabilities.
abstract: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis below the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta. PAD increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and associated mortality. Little is known about the prevalence of PAD in middle-aged persons with intellectual disabilities (ID). We determined the prevalence of PAD among people with ID aged 40-59 years. Independent associations between PAD and patient and care characteristics were explored. A multi-center cross-sectional observational study was conducted in four care providing agencies for people with ID in the Netherlands. We included 407 participants with mild to profound ID aged 40-59 years, receiving medical care from specialized ID physicians. The ankle-brachial index was used to diagnose PAD. The overall prevalence of PAD was 8.4% (95% CI=6.0-11.4%), with no significant differences between age groups 40-49 years (8.2%) and 50-59 years (8.5%). None of the participants had been diagnosed with PAD prior to this study and only one participant with PAD had PAD-related symptoms (1/34). Wheelchair dependence was independently associated with PAD (OR=5.43). Prevalence of PAD among people with ID is high, which is especially remarkable in age group 40-49 years. Physicians need to be aware of this high prevalence of PAD and the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in (young) people with ID.
authors.affiliation: Prinsenstichting, Care Providing Agency, Spinnekop 5, 1444 GN Purmerend, The Netherlands. Electronic address: i.h.schuller@amc.nl.
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Zaal-Schuller
authors.affiliation: 's Heeren Loo, Apeldoorn, Care Providing Agency, Regenboogbrink 12, 7325 BA Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. Electronic address: annelies.goorhuis@sheerenloo.nl.
authors.forename: A E M
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Goorhuis
authors.affiliation: 's Heeren Loo, Ermelo, Care Providing Agency, Enckerkamp 2, 3853 HL Ermelo, The Netherlands. Electronic address: aisha.sinot@sheerenloo.nl.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bock-Sinot
authors.affiliation: Dichterbij, Care Providing Agency, Wanssumseweg 14, 5807EA Oostrum, The Netherlands. Electronic address: i.claassen@dichterbij.nl.
authors.forename: I H M
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Claassen
authors.affiliation: Intellectual Disability Medicine, Department General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Echteld
authors.affiliation: Intellectual Disability Medicine, Department General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Evenhuis
keywords: Ankle-brachial index; Intellectual disability; Middle age; Peripheral arterial disease; Prevalence