Health behaviours and selected risk factors of patients with chronic lower limb ischaemia

Introduction:
The aim of the study was to assess health behaviours and analyse selected risk factors for disease among patients diagnosed with chronic lower limb ischaemia.

Material and methods:
The study included 100 patients with chronic lower limb ischaemia according to the Fontaine classification in stages IIb to IV. The study used the diagnostic survey method using Juczynski’s Health Behaviour Inventory and a proprietary survey questionnaire, as well as analysis of medical records.

Results:
In the study, 54% of the subjects had low levels of health behaviours. A statistical analysis revealed a correlation between health behaviours and certain risk factors such as the number of cigarettes smoked (p = 0.0357), hypertension (p = 0.0398), hypercholesterolaemia (p = 0.0446), age (p = 0.0015), and gender (p = 0.0021). The study group had the main risk factors for chronic ischaemic disease of the lower limbs, which include gender, age, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, smoking, lipid metabolism disorders, overweight and obesity, and history of atherosclerotic diseases. According to Fontaine’s classification, diagnosed degree III ischaemia prevailed among the subjects (44%), slightly fewer subjects (33%) had degree IV, while the fewest subjects (23%) were diagnosed with degree IIb ischaemia.

Conclusions:
Health behaviours of patients with chronic lower limb ischaemia were at a low level overall; the lowest in the categories of health practices and proper eating habits. A burden of risk factors for chronic lower limb ischaemia was detected in the study group of patients.