J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2012 Mar;16(1):5-11. 10.4235/jkgs.2012.16.1.5.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Peripheral Artery Disease in Elderly Chronic Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Study of a Single Geriatric Hospital

• Kim BJ
• Kang JH
• Sohn DH

• KMID: 1434634
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4235/jkgs.2012.16.1.5

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is caused by atherosclerosis of the peripheral vessels, is a progressive disease, especially in patients with many of the vascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of PAD in elderly chronic stage ischemic stroke patients in Korea.
METHODS
Ninety-six elderly patients (> or =60 years) admitted to a local geriatric hospital with ischemic stroke in the chronic stage (mean duration of stroke, 590 days) were included in this study. Vascular risk profiles, routine blood tests, severity of stroke and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were measured.
RESULTS
Of the 96 patients, 55 (57.3%) had PAD (ABI<0.9) of which 6 patients (6.3%) had severe PAD (ABI<0.5) and 22 patients (22.9%) had bilateral PAD. PAD was more frequently observed in patients with diabetes (65% vs. 15%, p=0.001), hypercholesterolemia (65% vs. 15%, p<0.001), previous history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (25% vs. 5%, p=0.01) and recurrent ischemic stroke (36% vs. 12%, p=0.01). The means of the total cholesterol and blood urea nitrogen were higher in patients with PAD. From the results of the binary logistic regression analysis, presence of diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 4.740; p=0.026), hypercholesterolemia (OR, 18.991; p<0.001), previous history of CAD (OR, 7.579; p=0.038) and lower Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (OR, 0.971; p=0.009) were independent risk factors for PAD.
CONCLUSION
PAD is frequently observed in elderly patients with chronic ischemic stroke. Measuring ABI to diagnose PAD and controlling risk factors may be beneficial in these patients seen at geriatric hospitals and centers.

Keyword

Cerebral infarction; Peripheral artery disease; Ankle brachial index

MeSH Terms

Aged
Ankle Brachial Index
Atherosclerosis
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Cerebral Infarction
Cholesterol
Coronary Artery Disease
Hematologic Tests
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia
Logistic Models
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Stroke
Cholesterol