Objective: To investigate the prevalence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose regulation (IGR).
Methods: Follow-up 5 years after the previous epidemiologic study of metabolic syndrome in Chaoyang community, Shanghai, 2000 - 2001 was conducted among 717 patients with DM or IGR. Questionnaire survey about general status and DM-related history and behaviors, including smoking, was carried out. Physical examination was made. Ankle/brachial index (A/BI) was measured. Intermittent claudication was surveyed by Edinburgh claudication questionnaire (ECQ). Blood sugar and blood lipid were detected. 427 patients, 210 males and 217 females, aged 67.3 +/- 14.0 (21 - 104), with intact data were enrolled into the analysis.
Results: The overall prevalence of PVD was 12.2% in the hyperglycemic population. The prevalence of PVD in the diabetics was 15.1%, significantly higher than that of the IGP subjects (7.7%, P = 0.022). The rate of intermittent claudication in those with the A/BI <or= 0.9 was 13.5%. Logistic regression revealed that age, sex, diabetic duration, and total cholesterol were independent risk factors of diabetic PVD.
Conclusion: The PVD prevalence is rather high in both diabetics and IGR subjects. Most PVD patients are asymptomatic. AB/I measurement helps early diagnosis of PVD.