Anaemia, iron and vitamin deficits in patients with peripheral arterial disease

Abstract

Introduction: Anaemia can compromise muscle and organ function. Related iron and vitamin body stores have seldom been assessed in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Report: We retrospectively analysed basal prevalence of anaemia, iron, B(12)-vitamin and folic acid deficits in 420 patients with claudication and 204 patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI). The prevalence of the evaluated parameters was 9.8%, 6.7%, 6.7% and 2.9% among patients with claudication but 49.5%, 31.9%, 15.7% and 6.4% among CLI patients, respectively (p < 0.05 for all).

Discussion: Anaemia, iron and vitamin deficits are uncommon among patients with ischemic claudication but very prevalent among patients with CLI.