Claudication is a significant predictor of cardiovascular outcome

January 01, 0001

Claudication is a significant predictor of cardiovascular outcome

The aim of this observational cohort study of 12,203 Western Australian men aged 65 years and over, recruited from 1996 to 1999, and followed up from 2001 to 2004 was to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for claudication and its association with subsequent cardiovascular events.

The prevalence of claudication was 5.3%. At follow-up, after exclusion of 148 men with claudication at baseline and 76 with missing data at follow-up, the crude average annual incidence of new PAD (claudication or procedure for PAD) was 0.85%. The risk factors for prevalent claudication and incident PAD were similar, with age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and history of cardiovascular disease dominating. Of the men with claudication at baseline, nearly half (47.5%) were not taking aspirin. At follow-up, 42.5% of the men with incident PAD were not taking aspirin. Claudication at baseline was associated with twice the risk of cardiovascular death (hazard ratio, 2.00). There was a J-shaped relationship between aortic diameter, and both prevalent claudication and subsequent cardiovascular events.

The researchers concluded: "Among older men, claudication is prevalent and is associated with factors that can still be modified in older age, including smoking, exercise and diet. Relatively few men with claudication or at risk of PAD use aspirin. Claudication is a significant predictor of cardiovascular outcome."

It does appear that more can be done for modifiable risk and use of aspirin.


For the full abstract, click here.

MJA 192 (11): 641-645, 7 June 2010
© The Medical Journal of Australia 2010
Population-based observational study of claudication in older men: the Health in Men Study. Rahul Lakshmanan, Zoë Hyde, Konrad Jamrozik, Graeme J Hankey and Paul E Norman. Correspondence to Paul E Norman: [email protected]

Category: K. Circulatory. Keywords: claudication, men, observational cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 25 June 2010

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