Peripheral arterial disease and its correlates in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a teaching hospital in northern Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a risk factor for diabetic foot ulcer, limb amputation as well as coronary heart disease. It is more common in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and co-exists with peripheral neuropathy. Prevalence of PAD in type 2 DM patients in northern Nigeria is largely unknown. We investigated the occurrence and factors associated with PAD among patients with type 2 DM in a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria. METHODS: This was a cross- sectional analytic study. We recruited 200 patients with type 2 DM consecutively from the diabetes clinic of the Jos University Teaching Hospital. Ankle brachial index was assessed for each participant. Clinical information, anthropometric indices and blood samples were collected for assay. Data was analysed using CDC Epi-Info and logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent correlates of PAD. RESULTS:PAD was present in 38.5%(n = 77) of subjects and it was associated with the female sex, age ≥ 50 years, Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m(2) and low HDL cholesterol levels. However, on multiple logistic regression, a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) and a low HDL cholesterol level were independent correlates of PAD(adjusted OR = 2.13,95% CI = 1.04–4.36 and adjusted OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.04–5.15, respectively). CONCLUSION: PAD is present in more than a third of patients with type 2 DM in a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria. A BMI of ≥25 kg/m(2) and low HDL cholesterol levels were independent correlates of PAD.