Prevalence and Risk Factors of Peripheral Artery Disease in Diabetic Patients: Insights from a Retrospective Cross-Sectional and Cohort Study in Abu Dhabi

Aysha Abdulla Alyahyaee,1 Esraa Mahmoud,1 Alyazia Aziz AlAzeezi,1 Amal Abdul Rahim Al Zarooni,1 Nico JD Nagelkerke,2 Latifa Baynouna Al Ketbi1 1Academic Affairs Department, Ambulatory Healthcare Services, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 2Community Medicine Department, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesCorrespondence: Amal Abdul Rahim Al Zarooni, Email [email protected]: Peripheral artery disease (PAD), a common manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis, is linked to high morbidity and mortality. Risk factors such as age, male gender, and hyperlipidemia significantly contribute to PAD. This study aims to estimate the Predictors and associations of peripheral artery diseases in the Abu Dhabi population.Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of diabetic patients who had ankle brachial index tests in 2018– 2019. Data collected from electronic medical records include demographics, treatment history, comorbidities (hypertension, smoking), lab results (HbA1c, renal function, lipid profile), and findings from sudoscan test used to assess the function of small nerve fibers and evaluate autonomic dysfunction. A cohort study from the Abu Dhabi Cardiovascular Risk Study (ADRS), to determine the predictors and relationships associated with peripheral artery disease in Abu Dhabi. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.Results: Among the 359 patients from the cross-sectional study, 65.5% had normal ABI, 14.2% had low abnormal ABI, and 20.3% had high abnormal ABI. The average age was 65.3 years, with 66.3% females and 75.49% United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals. Most patients (65.2%) were on non-insulin treatments, and 75.8% had hypertension. The mean HbA1c level was 7.3%. Regarding renal function, 51.5% had stage 1 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and 9.2% had abnormal eye grading. Ulcers were present in 95.8%, and 9.7% had vascular referrals. Multivariate analysis showed no significant predictors of abnormal ABI (p > 0.05). In the cohort study of 8699 patients, PAD prevalence was highest among those aged 40– 59, with significant associations with age, smoking, and diabetes.Conclusion: Abnormal ABI was present in 34.5% of patients, with no significant association with various risk factors. However, the cohort study showed that age, smoking, and diabetes are significantly related to PAD development.Keywords: PAD, peripheral artery disease, DM, diabetes mellitus, ABI, ankle brachial index