Claudication, in contrast to angina pectoris, independently predicts mortality risk in the general population

BACKGROUND: The aim of our analyses was to investigate whether claudication and angina pectoris, each defined and based on the answer to a single question, are predictive of future mortality.

PROBANDS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 3995 subjects selected from the population-based Study of Health In Pomerania (SHIP). Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were used to analyze the association of angina pectoris and claudication with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality adjusted for major cardiovascular risk factors.

RESULTS: At baseline, 417 individuals had symptoms of angina pectoris, and 323 had symptoms of claudication. During a median follow-up of 8.5 years, 277 individuals died. Individuals with claudication had a higher fully-adjusted all-cause mortality rate (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.79; 95 % CI 1.34, 2.39, p < 0.001) and a higher sex- and age-adjusted cardiovascular mortality rate (HR 1.76; 95 % CI 1.03, 2.99, p = 0.038) compared to subjects without claudication. In contrast, subjects with angina pectoris had neither an elevated fully-adjusted all-cause mortality rate (HR 1.15; 95 % CI 0.82, 1.61, p = 0.413) nor sex- and age-adjusted cardiovascular mortality rate (HR 0.71; 95 % CI 0.34, 1.48, p = 0.363) compared to those without this symptom.

CONCLUSIONS: Claudication, in contrast to angina pectoris, is a strong, independent predictor of all-cause mortality.