Abstract

QUIROS-MEZA, Gerardo et al. Prevalence and risk factors of systemic atherosclerosis disease. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2014, vol.56, n.1, pp.06-11. ISSN 0001-6002.

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and risk factors of polyvascular disease in ambulatory patients older than 50 years, attending the outpatient clinic of the Neurology Department in a tertiary care center. Methods: It is a transversal study which included a sample of all patients, 50 years and older, attending the outpatient clinic of the Neurology Department of the Calderon Guardia Hospital between February and March 2011. Demographic, clinical and biological backgrounds (including waist circumference) were collected. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) was used to determine peripheral artery disease. Results: 124 patients were selected (57.7% men). The mean age of the group was 68.6 years (CI 95%:66.6-70.7). In the case of 66.9% of patients, they presented atheromatous disease in at least one vascular territory. Polyvascular disease was present in 32% of patients from the sample (2 or 3 territories were affected). The risk factors for atheromatosis in the study’s population were hypertension in 71.7%, dyslipidemia in 62.3%, diabetes mellitus in 32.8%, smoking in 37%, and obesity in 17.5% of patients. The data collected for waist circumference showed an incidence for obesity in 27% of men and 69.6% of women. The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified significant differences in the prevalence of risk factors among subgroups in the sample. Risk factor control was inadequate in 41% of patients with hypertension and in 39% of patients with dyslipidemia. As to diabetics, 40% of them did not receive any treatment for their condition. Conclusions: The risk factors for atherosclerosis found in the sample were hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Systemic atherosclerosis or polyvascular disease was present in 30% of patients. Also, an inadequate control and follow-up of this population was observed.

Keywords : Atheromatous vascular disease; risk factors; cerebrovascular disease; peripheral artery disease; coronary artery disease.

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