(P279) PREVALENCE OF PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE IN A NOVA SCOTIAN CONTEXT THROUGH THE LENS OF THE EDINBURG CLAUDICATION QUESTIONNAIRE AND ANKLE BRACHIAL INDEX MEASUREMENTS

Background: In 2009 it was estimated that 800 000 (2.1%) Canadians lived with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and global prevalence has only increased since then. The goal of our study was threefold: (1) What is the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Nova Scotia, (2) What percentage of Nova Scotians know what PAD is, and (3) Can the Edinburg Claudication Questionnaire (ECQ) be used as a PAD screening tool within a Nova Scotian population.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Participants were recruited from 8 sites across Nova Scotia. In 2022, they were recruited at Heartland tour sites—an annual health promotion and awareness campaign—whereas in 2023, participants were recruited at community sites corresponding to the 2023 Heartland tour itinerary. Eligible and consenting participants then completed a questionnaire asking about PAD risk factors, associated conditions, PAD knowledge as well as the ECQ. They also completed Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) via oscillmatory blood pressure cuff. ABI was calculated by dividing systolic blood pressure in the right and left leg over the highest systolic blood pressure in the right or left arm. Presence of PAD was determined as ABI < 0.9 in either leg as per national guidelines.

Overall, 417 participants were recruited. 249 of participants recruited at heartland tour sites (HLT) and 149 participants recruited at community sites (Public) had their ABIs recorded, demonstrating a 2.81% and a 5.37% prevalence rate in the HLT group, and Public group respectively. On average, only 1 in 4 participants knew what PAD was, with only 25.86% of the HLT and 24.7% of Public participants reporting previous knowledge of PAD. 394 total participants had both ABI and ECQ results recorded to assess the ECQ. We found 1 true positive, 14 false negatives, and 9 false positives. This resulted in a sensitivity of 6.67%, and a specificity of 97.63%.

Conclusion: We found the prevalence of PAD to be as high as 5.37% in a Nova Scotian Population. This may be in part to the population having higher than average PAD risk factors. The heightened PAD prevalence, and limited awareness of the disease suggests an increased need for targeted primary prevention and education strategies. Secondly prevention PAD screening may also be warranted; however, the ECQ does not appear to be an effective PAD screening tool in this population.