Peripheral arterial disease and its risk factors in patients with Diabetes Mellitus attending Mulago Hospital Diabetic Clinic

Abstract

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common but under-recognised problem affecting older patients. Diabetes is one of the most powerful risk factor for PAD. Intermittent claudication is the most frequent symptom of PAD, although the diagnosis of PAD is often overlooked until the patient presents with limb threatening ischemia. Importantly, PAD is a maker for generalised atherosclerosis and is closely associated with coronary and cerebrovascular disease. The severity of PAD has been correlated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular death. The recognition and diagosis of PAD, combined with its appropriate medical management, may well reduce the overall risk of cardiovascular morbidity. When diagonised early, both exercise and pharmacotherapy can ameliorate symptoms of claudication, augment functional performance and improve quality of life, (This includes increase in walking speed to 3mph and increase in walking distance by 50%.