Background
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can progress silently without any clinical symptoms. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the recommended method used in primary care. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PAD and its related risk factors in primary care.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, 250 participants aged ≥45 years were recruited randomly from the registered patients of family health center in a district of Izmir, Turkey. Patients’ demographic data, PAD symptoms, and PAD risk factors were obtained. The PAD group consisted of patients with ABI levels <0.9; the non-compressible artery (NCA) group consisted of patients with ABI levels >1.3.
Results
The prevalence of PAD was 17.6% (22.5% in women and 11.1% in men), while that of NCA was 15.2% (12.7% in women and 25.0% in men). About 27.3% and 54.5% of patients with PAD did not have claudication and problems with walking distance, respectively. Of the NCA patients, 15.8% had problems with walking distance and 39.5% had claudication. Regression analysis revealed two predictors of PAD (age ≥65 years: odds ratio [OR], 3.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65–7.47; claudication: OR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.58–7.39) and three predictors of NCA (age <65 years: OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.01–6.45; male sex: OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.10–5.25; triglyceride [TG] >200 mg/dL: OR, 4.11; 95% CI, 1.58–10.67).
Conclusion
PAD had a prevalence of 17.6% and was associated with age ≥65 years and claudication. NCA had a prevalence of 15.2% and was associated with age <65 years, TG >200 mg/dL, and male sex.

Citations

• Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory with Persons with Peripheral Artery Disease: A Mixed Method Study
  Nevra Kalkan, Mevlude Karadağ
  Nursing Science Quarterly.2025; 38(1): 55.     CrossRef
• Predictive Factors of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Home Care Patients
  Halis Yılmaz, Seda Arslan Özkul, Kübra Temel Aslan, Pemra Cöbek Ünalan, Çiğdem Apaydın Kaya
  Konuralp Tıp Dergisi.2024; 16(3): 225.     CrossRef
• Differences in Symptom Presentation in Women and Men with Confirmed Lower Limb Peripheral Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Cindy P. Porras, Michiel L. Bots, Martin Teraa, Sander van Doorn, Robin W.M. Vernooij
  European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.2022; 63(4): 602.     CrossRef
• The Frequency of Primary Healthcare Contacts Preceding the Diagnosis of Lower-Extremity Arterial Disease: Do Women Consult General Practice Differently?
  Cindy P. Porras, Martin Teraa, Michiel L. Bots, Annemarijn R. de Boer, Sanne A. E. Peters, Sander van Doorn, Robin W. M. Vernooij
  Journal of Clinical Medicine.2022; 11(13): 3666.     CrossRef
• Ankle-brachial Index and associated factors in individuals with coronary artery disease
  Saulo Henrique Salgueiro de Aquino, Isabelle Tenório Melo, Carlos Dornels Freire de Souza, Francisco de Assis Costa
  Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira.2020; 66(4): 407.     CrossRef

Background
Epidemiological studies suggest that serum calcium levels correlate with cardiovascular events. An ankle-brachial index (ABI) between 0.9 and 1.00 is a surrogate estimation of preclinical peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Prior studies have shown that an ABI of 0.9–1.0 is also associated with endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, we sought to investigate the relationship between serum calcium levels and preclinical PAD in apparently healthy Korean individuals.
Methods
We evaluated the association between serum calcium levels and preclinical PAD in 596 participants (334 males, 262 females) in a health examination program. Preclinical PAD was defined by an ABI of 0.9–1.0. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether the serum calcium level was an independent determinant of preclinical PAD.
Results
The overall prevalence of preclinical PAD was 14.3%. The mean age was 44.0±12.5 years in the non-PAD group and 48.3±11.4 years in the preclinical PAD group (P=0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, g-glutamyltransferase, uric acid, hypertension medication, diabetes medication, and hyperlipidemia medication, the odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for preclinical PAD was 2.28 (1.02–5.11) with a 1-mg/dL increase in the serum calcium.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that increased serum calcium is independently and positively associated with preclinical PAD regardless of the presence of classic cardiovascular risk factors.

Citations

• Association of Klotho and FGF23 with cardiovascular outcomes in diabetic older adults with chronic limb-threatening ischemia: a prospective study
  Federico Biscetti, Silvia Giovannini, Roberto Iezzi, Claudia Loreti, Pietro Caliandro, Lorenzo Biscotti, Dario Pitocco, Andrea Flex
  GeroScience.2025; 47(3): 4921.     CrossRef