Epidemiological characteristics of lower extremity arterial disease in Chinese diabetes patients at high risk: a prospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study

Abstract Aims To determine the epidemiological characteristics of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in high-risk patients and identify practical gaps in LEAD management. Methods This cross-sectional study consecutively enrolled 10681 patients with type 2 diabetes from 30 hospitals across China from June 2016 to January 2017. All patients were assessed for LEAD by the Ankle-Brachial Index in conjunction with lower limb ultrasonography according to local guidelines. Results The mean age of patients was 64.2 years, and the median duration of diabetes was 9.0 years. The overall prevalence of LEAD was 21.2%, with 10.6% of patients diagnosed with LEAD before enrollment and 11.8% newly diagnosed at the present visit. Patients with older age, hypertension and dyslipidemia as well as those who smoked were at higher risk of developing LEAD. Only 55.0%, 28.2%, and 42.5% of participating patients reached the guideline-recommended goals for glycemic, blood pressure, and lipid control, respectively. Anti-hypertensive agents, lipid lowering therapies, anti-platelet agents, and vasodilators were underused, especially in newly diagnosed LEAD patients (44.1%, 46.2%, 35.3%, and 31.7%, respectively). Conclusions Despite the high prevalence of LEAD, it was still found to be underdiagnosed and undertreated in Chinese diabetes patients. More efforts should be directed at encouraging awareness of early LEAD and achieving guideline-recommended goals in type 2 diabetes patients.