IJCS | Volume 31, Nº4, July / August 2018

DOI: 10.5935/2359-4802.20180031 405 ORIGINAL ARTICLE International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2018;31(4)405-413 Mailing Address: Rafael de Oliveira Alvim Rua Alaor de Queiroz Araújo, 135. Postal Code: 29050-245, Enseada do Suá, Vitória (ES) - Brazil. E-mail: r.alvim@hotmail.com Prevalence of Peripheral Artery Disease and Associated Risk Factors in a Brazilian Rural Population: The Baependi Heart Study Rafael de Oliveira Alvim, 1 Fernando Augusto Lavezzo Dias, 2 Camila Maciel de Oliveira, 2 Andréa Roseli Vançan Russo Horimoto, 3 Anderson Zampier Ulbrich, 2 José Eduardo Krieger, 3 Alexandre da Costa Pereira 3 Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), 1 Vitória, ES - Brazil Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), 2 Curitiba, PR - Brazil Instituto do Coração (InCor) - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, 3 São Paulo, SP - Brazil Manuscript received July 26, 2016, revised manuscript September 28, 2017, accepted October 15, 2017. Abstract Background: The identification of peripheral artery disease (PAD) can help prevent further progression of the disease and additional complications, considering that this condition is a risk factor for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death. Objective: To assess the prevalence of PAD in the Baependi Heart Study and investigate associated risk factors in different age groups. Methods: A total of 1,627 individuals (of both genders and aged 18 - 102 years) residing in the municipality of Baependi (Minas Gerais, Brazil) were selected for this study. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were evaluated by standard techniques. Physical activity level was determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The screening of PAD was performed by determination of the ankle- brachial index (ABI). The level of statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: In the overall sample, the prevalence of PAD was 1.05%, and reached 5.2% after the age of 70 years. The frequency and intensity of smoking were higher in individuals with PAD. A prior history of myocardial infarction and a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle were also associated with PAD. In addition, PAD was more frequent in blacks than whites. In multivariable analysis, age, diabetes, smoking, and physical inactivity remained independently associated with PAD. Conclusion: The prevalence of PAD was low and increased clearly with age in our sample from a Brazilian rural population. Furthermore, the main risk factors for PAD in the investigated sample were smoking, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes mellitus, and age. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2018;31(4)405-413) Keywords: Peripheral Arterial Disease / prevalence; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Tobacco Use Disorder; Ankle- Brachial Index. Introduction Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is classically defined as a condition affecting noncardiac, nonintracranial arteries, majorly due to atherosclerosis, that leads to partial obstruction of the peripheral arteries, reducing perfusion to the tissues irrigated by these arteries. 1,2 Even though PAD is asymptomatic in most patients, the disease may progress with clinical symptoms (like claudication) and eventually lead to tissue necrosis. The identification of PAD can help prevent further progression of the disease itself and additional complications, considering that this condition is a risk factor for all-cause mortality 3-8 and cardiovascular death, 3,4,7,9 including coronary artery disease 3,7 and stroke. 5,7 PAD is also a major cause of quality of life impairment, which in turn, worsen even more with the progression of the disease. 10,11 Therefore, information