[Intermittent claudication--social aspects in young patients not undergoing surgical treatment].

A total of 107 patients suffering from intermittent claudication (CI) was studied after a mean observation time of 5.9 years. Thirty-one (29%) had died during the observation period. A questionnaire was sent to 76 patients and 78% replied. All patients were under 50 years of age at the first consultation. No patients had been operated upon. The ratio women:men was 1:1.3. 33% received disability pensions or some other kind of pensions. Fifty-eight had limited their spare-time activities because of CI. It is concluded that a close control and reconstructive arteria surgery must still be recommended when the working ability is threatened.