Coronary artery disease in patients with peripheral artery disease

OBJECTIVES: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic disease associated with cardiovascular risk factors, and with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study sought to assess the prevalence of angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD), and to determine the predictive value of traditional cardiovascular risk factors on the presence of CAD in patients with PAD of the lower extremities. METHODS: In total, 231 patients who presented at hospital complaining of intermittent claudication were included. All patients underwent simultaneous peripheral and cardiac angiography. Age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and lipid values were recorded. RESULTS: The coronary angiograms of 64 (28%) patients were within normal limits, and 167 (72%) patients manifested CAD. Logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension and diabetes were independent predictors for the presence of CAD or PAD. CONCLUSION: Aggressive treatment of cardiovascular risk factors, especially hypertension and diabetes, in PAD is critically important in reducing mortality and morbidity. (Heart Lung (R) 2010;39:116-120.)