PREVALENCE OF CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE, ATHEROTHROMBOTIC BRAIN INFARCTION, AND PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL-DISEASE - ASSOCIATED RISK-FACTORS IN OLDER HISPANICS IN AN ACADEMIC HOSPITAL-BASED GERIATRICS PRACTICE

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of coronary artery disease (C AD), atherothrombotic brain infarction (ABI), and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in older Hispanics and the association with risk factors in this population. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of charts from a ll Hispanics seen during January 1996 through July 1997 at an academic hospital-based geriatrics practice. SETTING: An academic, hospital-ba sed, primary care geriatrics practice staffed by fellows in a geriatri cs training program and by full-time faculty geriatricians. PATIENTS: One hundred sixty women and 53 men, mean age 80 +/- 8 years (range 64 to 100), were included in the study. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 213 Hispanics in the study, 59 (28%) had documented CAD, 43 (20%) had ABI, 34 (16%) had PAD, and 90 (42%) had either CAD, ABI, or PAD. Seru m total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in 202 of 213 subj ects (95%). Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was measured in 137 of 213 patients (64%). Other risk factor data were documented in all patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis performed in 202 p atients using the variables age, gender, cigarette smoking, hypertensi on, diabetes mellitus, obesity, serum total cholesterol, and serum tri glycerides showed statistically significant associations between preva lent CAD, ABI, or PAD and age (P =.002, odds ratio (OR) = 1.083), ciga rette smoking (P =.002, (OR)= 3.865), hypertension (P =.007, (OR)= 2.7 49), diabetes mellitus (P =.028, (OR) = 2.386), obesity (P =.014, (OR) = 2.608), serum total cholesterol (P < 0.001, (OR) = 1.025), and seru m triglycerides (P =.017, (OR)=.993). CONCLUSIONS: Either CAD, ABI, or PAD was present in 42% of 213 older Hispanics. There were statistical ly significant associations between prevalent CAD, ABI, or PAD in olde r Hispanics and risk factors, including age, cigarette smoking, hypert ension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and serum total cholesterol.