Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of intermittent claudication (IC) and its association with physical activity among the staff of Allied Health Sciences Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted and the sample size was 70 through census. Data were collected from the staff aged between 25 to 60 years. The Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire (ECQ), Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used as assessment tools. Among the participants majority were male (71.4%) and aged 25 to 35 years (65.7%). According to ECQ responses, 14.3% reported symptoms of IC (in which 7.1% typical and 7.1% atypical), while ABI results showed 14.3% with mild PAD, 15.7% with moderate PAD and 7.1% with borderline values. Physical activity assessment revealed that 42.9% of staff was lightly active and 17.1% were inactive. When the association between physical activity and IC were analyzed there were no significant association found as the P-value (0.287) was greater than 0.05. Reduced physical activity and sedentary job routines were found to be major contributing factors. The study concludes that a considerable number of participants experienced symptoms of intermittent claudication and along with abnormal ABI readings. Strategies such as regular physical activity, routine screening, workplace health promotion programs and awareness are essential to improve vascular health and reduce the PAD and IC risks.