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Serum lipids and anthropometric factors related to the prevalence of intermittent claudication.

Jensen SA, Vatten LJ, Nilsen TI, Romundstad PR, Myhre HO

Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, University Medical Center, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway.

PURPOSE: To study serum lipids, body mass index (BMI), and body shape in relation to intermittent claudication (IC) in 19,748 men and women 40-69 years of age. METHOD: All residents (1995-1997) in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway, were invited to attend the cross sectional study and received a Norwegian translation of the WHO/Rose questionnaire on intermittent claudication and the Edinburgh claudication questionnaire. Blood lipids and anthropometric data were measured at a consecutive examination. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated for associations with IC by multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol (TC/HDL cholesterol) (P trend(men)=.023; P trend(women)<.001) and triglycerides (P trend(men)=.029; P trend(women)=.002) were positively associated with the prevalence of IC. HDL cholesterol was negatively (P trend(men)=.131; P trend(women)<.001) associated, whereas BMI (P trend(women)=.032), waist circumference (P trend(women)=.021), and hip circumference (P trend(women)=.020) were positively associated with IC in women, but not in men. Adjustment for smoking, diabetes, and systolic or diastolic blood pressure did not change the results. CONCLUSION: TC/HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were positively, and HDL cholesterol negatively associated with IC in both genders. In women, but not in men, BMI, waist and hip circumference were positively associated with IC.

Published 30 November 2005 in Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg, 30(6): 582-7.
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