Search

Background: Diabetes mellitus is an important risk factor for development of atherosclerosis and by extension, lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LEAD). The prevalence of LEAD may vary depending on the diagnostic tool applied. Objective: To determine the effect of applied diagnostic tool on the prevalence of LEAD in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and eighty eight diabetic patients aged between 35 and 88 years were consecutively enrolled in the study. Fifty age and sex matched controls were also recruited for the study. LEAD was assessed in all the patients using:1. History of intermittent claudication using the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire.2. Palpation of pedal pulses for diminished or absent dorsalis pedis and/or posterior tibial artery pulsations.3. Ankle Brachial Index