Epidemiology of intermittent claudication: evaluation of risk factors.

Information from a geriatric health screening programme (Dunedin Program) was used to study the prevalence and risk factors predisposing to intermittent claudication (IC) in 1704 ambulatory elderly subjects. Risk factors studied included reported symptoms and diseases, mediation use, haematological and biochemical findings. The prevalence of IC reported by Dunedin participants was 14.1% for women and 14.4% for men. There was a positive relationship between IC and the number of other diseases and symptoms reported (P less than 0.0001). Serum glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides were significantly higher in subjects reporting IC. Systolic blood pressure was higher in men and women reporting IC, but no significant relationship was observed with diastolic blood pressure.