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Peripheral arterial disease PAD is a common manifestation of atherosclerosis, whose prevalence is increasing worldwide, and is associated with all-cause mortality.
However, no study has assessed this disease in Huambo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of PAD in patients attending an outpatient clinic at a general hospital in Huambo, South Angola. A cross-sectional study, including patients aged 40 years and older attending an outpatient service. The evaluation included a basic questionnaire for lifestyle and medical history and ankle-brachial index ABI measurement using hand-held Doppler.
Of patients, The prevalence of PAD was Among patients with PAD, The prevalence was slightly higher in men and hypertensive subjects, but without statistical significance with ORs of 1. Hypertension was also high in the group More studies, with representative samples, are necessary to clarify PAD prevalence and associated risk factors. Peripheral arterial disease PAD is an important manifestation of atherosclerosis, which in was estimated to affect more than million people worldwide [ 1 ].
From to , the number of people with the disease increased by It affects about 4. The presence of PAD is an important marker of cardiovascular risk [ 5 , 6 ] and is associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality [ 7 β 9 ]. PAD is independent risk factor for several other negative outcomes such as left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure [ 10 , 11 ]; it increases twice the risk of left main coronary artery and multiple vessels involvement, in patients with coronary artery disease CAD undergoing coronary angiography [ 12 ], and, by functional limitations it imposes, is associated with depression and loss of quality of life [ 13 , 14 ].
