Abstract: Aim To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in maintenance hemodialysis patients (MHD) by ankle brachial index (ABI). Methods A total of 254 MHD were enrolled and received questionnaire, physical examinations and laboratory examinations. PAD was diagnosed when ABI＜0.9. Results The prevalence of PAD in MHD patients in our center was 22.04% (56/254) without significant difference between genders, but was higher in older aged group (>65 years) than in younger group (39% vs. 13.9%, P＜0.05). Logistic regression showed that age (OR 1.822～19.029, P=0.003), dialysis age (OR 1.035～1.127, P＜0.001), diabetes (OR, 1.070～9.200, P=0.037), low albumin level (OR 3.472～ 24.16, P＜0.001), cerebral vascular disease history (OR 1.338～38.654, P =0.002), abdominal obesity (OR 2.149～24.689, P =0.001), hypertriglyceridemia (OR 1.050～10.102, P=0.041), Kt/V (OR 2.235～553.415, P= 0.011), alkaline phosphatase (OR 1.249～16.635, P=0.022), and C-reactive protein (OR 1.383～18.793, P = 0.014) were the independent risk factors for PAD. Conclusions MHD patients of older age, longer dialysis age, diabetes, lower Kt/v, abdominal obesity, lower albumin level, higher alkaline phosphatase, increased C-reactive protein, hypertriglyceridemia, and cerebral vascular disease history had a relatively higher risk of PAD.

Key words: Peripheral Artery Diseases, Hemodialysis, Prevalence, Risk factors