Peripheral vascular diseases in patients with coronary artery diseases

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of peripheral vascular disease [PVD] in patients with coronary artery disease [CAD] has been investigated in many different ways. It depends on the diagnostic methods used and definition of atherosclerotic manifestations in the different vascular beds. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of PVD in the lower limbs in group of patients with CAD. Design: This is a prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study The study was conducted at combined military hospital / Armed forces institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi, over a period of one year [January 1998 to January 1999]. Subjects and A total number of 200 patients [171 males and 29 females] aged 55-77 years with CAD Diagnosed by coronary angiography were included in the study. In all patients blood pressure was recorded in both arms by sphygmomanometer and ankle systolic pressure by Doppler ultrasound. Ankle brachial index was calculated. Demographic data were obtained from the patient's hospital files. The prevalence of PVD was 22.5% in patients with CAD in agreement with the results of most previous investigations. There was tendency towards increasing prevalence of PVD with more advanced CAD. Thirty patients [27%] showed evidence of triple vessel disease as compared to 13 patients [18%] with double vessel and 2 patients [1%] with single vessel disease. A non-invasive investigation of peripheral arterial circulation should be included early in the clinical consideration of patients with chest pain or similar symptoms suggesting coronary artery disease. Ankle systolic pressure appears to be simple and cheap technique for evaluation of results: