SEGMENTAL ARTERIAL-DISEASE IN THE LOWER-EXTREMITIES - CORRELATES OF DISEASE AND RELATIONSHIP TO MORTALITY

The purpose of this study was to identify the correlates of disease an d mortality risk associated with the presence of stenosis in the major arterial segments of the lower limb in men and women evaluated in a p eripheral vascular laboratory. A total of 326 men and 249 women had un isegmental stenosis; 312 men and 275 women had multisegmental disease; 132 men and 111 women had no apparent disease. Multivariate analysis indicated that current smoking and elevated systolic blood pressure we re the key risk factors associated with isolated aortoiliac and femoro popliteal arterial disease in both men and women. A history of diabete s was significantly associated with tibioperoneal disease in men while elevated systolic blood pressure was the major correlate of distal di sease in women in this patient population. The relative risk of mortal ity was elevated 2- to 7-fold in men and women with multi- and unisegm ental disease involving the aortoiliac and femoropopliteal segments; p resence of tibioperoneal disease did not significantly increase mortal ity relative to those who were free of disease. These results suggest that the etiology and mortality risk associated with atherosclerosis i n the lower extremity may vary with the anatomic site and/or severity of the lesion.