title: Epidemiological aspects of atherosclerosis in patients treated for acute atherothrombosis of extremity arteries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Risk factors for development of extremity artery atherosclerosis are the same as for coronary and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis namely, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, arterial hypertension, age and smoking. Atherosclerosis is polyarterial disease that clinically manifests itself most frequently in the form coronary, cerebrovascular or peripheral arterial disease (PAD). All of them have common, ominous and final pathologic step - atherosclerotic plaque rupture that might eventually lead to atherothrombosis and signs of ischemia. There are few studies of risk factor for peripheral artery disease (PAD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify prevalence of known risk factors for atherosclerosis in patients treated for acute atherothrombosis of extremity arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patient were analyzed with regard to the prevalence of five risk factors for atherosclerosis (diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and age). 80 patients were divided into two groups (Group A and B) depending on country i.e. hospital where they received treatment for acute atherothrombosis of extremity artery. Group A consisted of patients treated at Clinic for vascular surgery in Sarajevo, while patients in Group B were treated in Trollhattan in Sweden at NAL hospital. This study was clinical, comparative, retrospective-prospective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group A, 20% of patients had diabetes mellitus while in group B prevalence of diabetics was lower (12,5%) but difference was not statistically significant p>0.05. Sixty percent of patients (60%) in group A were smokers. In Sweden, habit of smoking is not as common as in Balkan countries and consequently only 22,5% of patients were smokers in Group l, difference was statistically significant, p<0.05. In patients assigned to group A, 42.5% of them had diagnosis of hypertension while in Group B, 35% of patients were hypertensive. Difference was not statistically significant, p>0.05. 37.5% of patients in group A and 20% of patients in group B had hyperlipidemia. Difference was not statistically significant, p>0.05. In Group A mean age of patients was 67.85 years while mean age in Group B was 73.63. Age difference was statistically significant, p<0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of risk factors of atherosclerosis in peripheral artery disease were evaluated in this study. Significant difference in prevalence of two risk factors were determined namely, smoking and mean age of occurrence of atherothrombosis. Quiting smoking and adopting healthier life habits may lead to reduction of prevalence PAD in younger patients in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for vascular surgery, Clinical Center of University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzeovina.
authors.forename: Nedzad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rustempasic
authors.affiliation: Clinic for vascular surgery, Clinical Center of University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzeovina.
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Totic
authors.affiliation: Clinic for vascular surgery, Clinical Center of University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzeovina.
authors.forename: Muhamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djedovic
authors.affiliation: Clinic for lung diseases and tuberculosis "Podhrastovi", Clinical Center of University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Medzida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rustempasic
authors.affiliation: Clinic for vascular surgery, Clinical Center of University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzeovina.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malesic
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: acute atherothrombosis; atherosclerosis; extremity arteries