A Hospital-Based Population Screening for Peripheral Arterial Diseases in a North-East University Hospital of India

This study was carried out with an aim of screening the hospital-based population through ankle-brachial pressure index measurement to identify the asymptomatic patients of peripheral arterial disease. Further association of peripheral arterial disease with other risk factors was also studied. A total of 1000 patients of a surgical unit of a university hospital, Varanasi, India, were studied for a period of 2 years. Ankle-brachial pressure index in both lower limbs was measured. Patients aged less than 18 years and patients with blood pressure less than 90/60 mm Hg were excluded. History of claudication, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery diseases, and family history of peripheral arterial disease were recorded. Patients with an ankle-brachial pressure index less than 0.9 were labeled as a case of peripheral arterial disease. Out of 1000 patients, 35 patients were symptomatic for peripheral arterial disease and all had ankle-brachial pressure index value < 0.9. Rest 965 patients were asymptomatic, out of which 155 (16.1%) had ankle-brachial pressure index less than 0.9. Elderly male smokers were the main victims. Hypertension was associated with an increased risk for peripheral arterial disease. Out of 15 patients with a history of coronary artery disease, 12 had peripheral arterial disease. The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in an asymptomatic hospital-based population was 16.1%. Screening by measuring ankle-brachial pressure index can help in its early detection. Risk factors modification at this stage can prevent significant morbidity due to the disease.