Abstract
Traumatic leg amputation, but not arm amputation, in World War II combat veterans has been associated with subsequent increased ischemic heart disease mortality. In a pilot project we examined a group of 19 high-risk Vietnam War veterans with bilateral above-knee amputations in comparison with a control group with unilateral below-elbow amputations. Nine of the 19 above-knee amputees were hypertensive (p = 0.05) and obese by hydrostatic weighing (p < 0.001). Obesity was strongly associated with hypertension, decreased glucose tolerance, and marked hyperinsulinemia. Cigarette smoking, blood lipid abnormalities, and decreased cardiovascular fitness were not implicated as significant risk factors. Long-term risks of amputation may be related to metabolic and hemodynamic sequelae of excessive maturity-onset weight gain in young men immobilized by loss of lower limbs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 20-23 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - 1987 |
| Externally published | Yes |