Charles Kouam Kouam, Kelly Kenfack Zogni , alain Menanga, Eugene Sobngwi, Samuel
Kingue.

Abstract
Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a disease process resulting from obstruction of large peripheral arteries, commonly due to atherosclerosis. It is associated with a high morbi-mortality rate. It progresses in nearly 70% of patients in an asymptomatic manner, making its screening in high cardiovascular risk subjects important. One way of screening PAD is by measuring the Ankle-brachial Index (ABI), which is a predictor of the risk of survival.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study for 5 months at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital where we recruited 80 diabetic subjects, with a history of at least 10 years of diabetes, having at least one other cardiovascular risk factor. For each subject we collected clinical data (age, sex, history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking) through an interrogation and consultation of the subject's medical record; anthropometric data was also gotten (the abdominal circumference). We then perform the measurement of the ABI using a pocket vascular Doppler. Statistical analysis was carried out by appropriate tests in EXCEL software. The results were expressed as a proportion (percentage) and mean ± standard deviation.

Results: Our population was of female predominance (56%) and the mean age was 62.8 ± 8.3 years. Hypertension was the most common risk factor in our population (97.5%). PAD (ABI<0.90) was found in 37.5% of our subjects. We looked for an association between the ABI values and the cardiovascular risk factors. We found out that a history of at least 10 years of diabetes, tobacco smoking and obesity significantly influence the occurrence of atherosclerotic lesions (p = 0.00015, 0.04 and 0.03 respectively).

Conclusion: Ten years of diabetes duration and above greatly influences the occurrence of atherosclerotic lesions; PAD is common in our population with a prevalence of 37.5%; Prevalence of atherosclerotic lesions increase in high cardiovascular risk patients.

Key words: Atherosclerosis, Ankle-brachial Index, Peripheral Artery Disease.