Introduction:

The metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk, including peripheral arterial disease.

Objectives:

To determine the frequency of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) detected by the ankle-brachial index method in patients with metabolic syndrome, to describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the metabolic syndrome and to detail the symptomatology of patients with PAD according to Fontaine scale.

Methodology:

A prospective observational study performed on 100 adult patients who met criteria for metabolic syndrome, according to the harmonized criteria of 2009, and admitted in the Medical Clinic Service of the Hospital Nacional (Itauguá, Paraguay) in 2016 and 2017. The right ankle-brachial index was calculated by the ratio of the systolic blood pressure of the right ankle divided by the higher systolic blood pressure of any arm and similarly for the left ankle-brachial index. The ankle-brachial index compatible with peripheral arterial disease was considered to be any value ≤0.9.

Results:

Twenty three percent of peripheral vascular insufficiency was found, being 18% of the right side, 13% of the left side and 8% bilateral. The criteria for metabolic syndrome were: arterial hypertension (100%), increased abdominal circumference (89%), high fasting blood sugar or type 2 diabetes mellitus (50%), low HDL cholesterol (47%), high triglycerides (35%). Only 7/23 (30%) subjects presented symptoms according to the Fontaine scale, 5 patients in stage IIa and 2 in stage IIb.

Conclusion:

The frequency of peripheral arterial disease was 23%. Claudication of limbs was present in 30% of those affected.

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