Aorto-iliac occlusive disease in the different population groups - Clinical pattern, risk profile and results of reconstruction

Background. It has previously been accepted that atherosclerotic disease is uncommon among blacks worldwide; however, recent studies have increasingly reported atherosclerotic disease in rids group. Study design. Prospective study of hospital patients with aorto-iliac occlu sive disease presenting to the vascular service of the Durban metropolitan hospitals. The study was designed to assess clinical pattern, risk profile and results of reconstruction in these patients. Methods. This is a study of 688 patients with aorto-iliac occlusive disease managed over 9 years in Durban, with clinical pattern and risk factors com pared in the different population groups. A subgroup of 492 patients underw ent aortobifemoral bypass, providing material for comparison of the results of reconstruction in the different population groups. Results: More black patients presented with gangrene and threatened limb, w hereas whiles tended to present early with claudication. All groups had hyp ertension and diabetes as risk factors. In addition, whites and Indians had ischaemic heart disease, which was not found among blacks. Mortality was 5% (blacks 1.8%, whites 8.5%, Indians 5%): Medium-term occlus ion rates were 19% in blacks, 13% in Indians and 5% among whites. Five-year cumulative patency rates were 92% for whites, 77% for Indians and 74% for blacks. Conclusion. Whites do significantly better than blacks, who tend to present at an advanced stage of the disease. The presence of ischaemic heart disea se among whites and Indians contributes to the higher mortality in these gr oups.