METHODS: Serum
ferritin,
transferrin saturation, and PAD, defined as having an ankle-brachial blood pressure index <0.9, were measured in 1,631 men and 1,031 postmenopausal women participating in the 19992002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
RESULTS: The multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for PAD associated with a two-fold increase in serum
ferritin and
transferrin saturation were 1.18 (1.001.41) and 1.45 (0.832.51), respectively, for men and 1.04 (0.871.25) and 1.55 (0.982.45), respectively, for women. After stratifying by
cholesterol levels, the multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for PAD associated with a two-fold increase in
ferritin and
transferrin saturation was 1.04 (0.781.39) and 0.73 (0.351.50), respectively, for men with total
cholesterol <200 mg/dL and 1.30 (0.991.72) and 2.59 (0.996.78), respectively, for men with total
cholesterol >or= 200 mg/dL (p-value for interaction was 0.58 for
ferritin and 0.08 for
transferrin saturation). After stratifying by
cholesterol levels, the multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for PAD associated with a two-fold increase in
ferritin and
transferrin saturation was 0.66 (0.411.05) and 0.75 (0.441.28), respectively, for women with total
cholesterol <200 mg/dL, and 1.20 (0.951.51) and 2.07 (1.014.22), respectively, for women with total
cholesterol >or= 200 mg/dL (p-value for interaction was 0.05 for
ferritin and 0.02 for
transferrin saturation).
CONCLUSION: In this large nationally representative sample of men and postmenopausal women, we found a modest association of
ferritin and
transferrin saturation with PAD, particularly among those with
high cholesterol levels.