The Prevalence of Asymptomatic and Unrecognized Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease

Background The prevalence of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), including asymptomatic cases and cases unknown to the general practitioner (GP) was estimated in 18 884 men and women, aged 45–74 years, on the list of 18 general practice centres (GPC). Methods The study population (n = 3171) consisted of a stratified sample of the total population. In the GPC data were collected on intermittent claudication (IC), peripheral pulses, vascular risk factors, cardio- and cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) and the ankle brachial systolic pressure ratio (AB ratio) and PAOD was defined as an AB ratio