Impact of atherosclerotic risk factors on the extent of arterial occlusive disease among Arabian patients: a hospital based study.

AIM: Although the risk factors for atherosclerosis have been identified, their impacts on the extent of arterial occlusive disease among Arabian population have never been studied before. METHODS: A case control study was undertaken on consecutive series of Arabian patients over one year. The study comprised 2 patients groups: atherosclerotic group which included patients aged 40 years and older admitted with peripheral, carotid or coronary artery disease and the control group, including patients admitted to one of the general surgical units who were free from atherosclerotic disease. All patients underwent evaluation of risk factors for atherosclerotic and systemic study of the vascular tree. Correlation and association were checked between prevalence of these factors and the extent of atherosclerotic disease into different territories. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifteen patients in the atherosclerotic group and 191 patients in the control group were included. The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was very high in the atherosclerotic group (67.8%). There was significant correlation between incidence of risk factors and risk and extent of atherosclerosis. In age, sex and nationality-adjusted logistic regression analysis, combination of some risk factors augmented the risk and extent of atherosclerosis e.g. diabetes alone increased the risk of atherosclerosis slightly in one affected system (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.9-2.7) while combination of diabetes, smoking and dyslipidemia enhanced this risk (OR 7.4, 95% CI 2.5-22.4). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors of atherosclerosis increase its incidence and extent into different territories.