Characterization of patients with chronic critical ischemia of lower limbs

Aim. Chronic critical limb ischemia is the most advanced presentation of peripheral arterial disease, and is characterized by pain at rest and / or necrosis or gangrene. Both the severity of the diseaseand its clinical manifestations are determined by the degree of arterial blockage. The aim of this study is to analyse the frequency of risk factors and comorbidities in patients diagnosed with chronic critical limb ischemia. Materials and methods. An observational descriptive study conducted between 2008 and 2011 in three health centers in Medellin. Results. A total of 62 patients with a mean age of 73.5 years were analysed. The most common risk factor in this group of patients was hypertension, with a total of 82.3%, on the other hand, a total of 50% with dyslipidemia, 41.9 % with diabetes and 41 % with coronary artery disease. Cerebrovascular disease and carotid disease were the two comorbidities with lower prevalence. Conclusions. Through the results it is concluded that cardiovascular events, including coronary heart disease, are common in people diagnosed with critical limb ischemia, which shows the severity of the illness and its high mortality. Risk factors that have the greatest impact on the evolution of the disease are smoking and diabetes, common in our population.