ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Even though atherosclerosis is a systemic disease, few prospective studies have evaluated in a thorough and systematic manner the whole vascular tree in patients with clinical damage of different territories. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective protocolized study of 269 consecutive patients younger than 70, attended because of symptomatic arteriosclerosis of any territory -53% coronary (CHD), 32% cerebrovascular (CVD), 15% peripheral (PVD)-. Patients underwent evaluation of risk factors and their control, systematic non-invasive study of the vascular tree (Doppler-ultrasound) and comparison between groups according to the index territory. RESULTS: Even though all risk factors were represented in the 3 groups, male sex, smoking and diabetes were more frequent in PVD and dyslipemia was more common in CHD (p < 0.05) Abdominal aortic diameter and carotid intima-media thickness were similar for all groups, while the number of carotid plaques was higher in PVD. CHD patients more often presented left ventricular hypertrophy and reduced ejection fraction. PVD patients showed a marked reduction of the ankle-brachial index as well as increased C-reactive protein and homocysteine (p < 0.05). Severe unsuspected vascular lesions were found in 13% of cases (95% confidence interval, 9.5-17.6%). Risk factor control was better for CHD, followed by CVD and PVD, but was globally poor. CONCLUSIONS: The systematic evaluation of the vascular tree detects generalized atherosclerotic lesions, in some cases severe and clinically unsuspected. New markers to identify patients at very high risk are necessary. Peripheral vascular disease identifies a group of patients of particular risk. Risk factor control is deficient, particularly among PVD patients.
Subject(s)
Arteriosclerosis/diagnostic imaging , Arteriosclerosis/epidemiology , Aged , Anthropometry , Atherosclerosis/diagnostic imaging , Atherosclerosis/epidemiology , Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging , Coronary Artery Disease/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Intracranial Arteriosclerosis/diagnostic imaging , Intracranial Arteriosclerosis/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Peripheral Vascular Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Peripheral Vascular Diseases/epidemiology , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Fundamento y objetivo: Aunque la aterosclerosis es una enfermedad generalizada del árbol vascular, existen escasos estudios prospectivos que evalúen transversalmente de modo extenso a pacientes con afectación clínica de diferentes territorios. Pacientes y método: Se ha realizado un estudio prospectivo protocolizado de 269 pacientes consecutivos menores de 70 años atendidos por aterosclerosis sintomática de cualquier territorio en un 53% coronario (CI), en un 32% cerebral (VC) y en un 15% periférico (VP). Se evaluaron los factores de riesgo y su control, y se realizó un estudio sistemático no invasivo del árbol vascular (ecografía Doppler) con una comparación entre los grupos según el territorio índice. Resultados: Aunque todos los factores de riesgo estaban representados en los 3 grupos, el sexo masculino, el tabaquismo y la diabetes fueron más frecuentes en VP y la dislipemia en CI (p < 0,05). El diámetro de la aorta abdominal y el grosor carotídeo mediointimal fueron similares en los 3 grupos, si bien el número de placas carotídeas fue superior en VP. CI presentó más frecuentemente hipertrofia ventricular y disminución de la fracción de eyección. VP presentó un índice tobillo-brazo notablemente inferior, junto con valores más elevados de proteína C reactiva y homocisteína (p < 0,05). Se descubrieron lesiones vasculares graves no sospechadas en un 13% de los pacientes (intervalo de confianza del 95%, 9,5-17,6%). El control de los factores de riesgo fue mejor en CI, seguido por VC y VP, si bien globalmente fue deficiente. Conclusiones: El estudio sistemático del árbol vascular detecta lesiones aterosclerosas generalizadas, no sospechadas clínicamente, en algunos casos graves. Son necesarios marcadores que permitan identificar a los pacientes de muy alto riesgo. La enfermedad vascular periférica identifica a un grupo de pacientes de especial riesgo vascular. El grado de control de los factores de riesgo es deficiente, especialmente en VP
Background and objective: Even though atherosclerosis is a systemic disease, few prospective studies have evaluated in a thorough and systematic manner the whole vascular tree in patients with clinical damage of different territories. Patients and method: Prospective protocolized study of 269 consecutive patients younger than 70, attended because of symptomatic arteriosclerosis of any territory 53% coronary (CHD), 32% cerebrovascular (CVD), 15% peripheral (PVD). Patients underwent evaluation of risk factors and their control, systematic non-invasive study of the vascular tree (Doppler-ultrasound) and comparison between groups according to the index territory. Results: Even though all risk factors were represented in the 3 groups, male sex, smoking and diabetes were more frequent in PVD and dyslipemia was more common in CHD (p < 0.05) Abdominal aortic diameter and carotid intima-media thickness were similar for all groups, while the number of carotid plaques was higher in PVD. CHD patients more often presented left ventricular hypertrophy and reduced ejection fraction. PVD patients showed a marked reduction of the ankle-brachial index as well as increased C-reactive protein and homocysteine (p < 0.05). Severe unsuspected vascular lesions were found in 13% of cases (95% confidence interval, 9.5-17.6%). Risk factor control was better for CHD, followed by CVD and PVD, but was globally poor. Conclusions: The systematic evaluation of the vascular tree detects generalized atherosclerotic lesions, in some cases severe and clinically unsuspected. New markers to identify patients at very high risk are necessary. Peripheral vascular disease identifies a group of patients of particular risk. Risk factor control is deficient, particularly among PVD patients
