Validity of Out-Patient Screening in Arteriosclerosis to Identify Multiple Lesions

A total of 594 patients admitted for cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and for peripheral vascular disease (PVD), were examined in a study aimed at clarify ing by a simple, inexpensive out-patient method, a) the relationship existing between the different locations of the vascular disease: brain, lower limbs, coro naries ; b) the prevalence in the patients studied of risk factors such as hyperten sion, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes, and of migraine.

The results were as follows: a) of the patients admitted for CVD, 44% also presented arteriosclerosis in other locations; this figure was 32% for PVD cases; b) hypertension was found in 38.5% of CVD and 27% of PVD cases; diabetes in 11.5% of CVD and in 18% of PVD cases; hyperlipidaemia in 31 % of CVD and 24% of PVD cases; migraine in 11% of CVD and 1% of PVD cases.