A review of smoking habits of 77 vascular related amputees demonstrated a high incidence of smoking significantly greater for men than in the general population. Male smoking amputees with atherosclerosis related peripheral vascular disease were found to have a high risk of having an above-knee amputation. Those with diabetes mellitus whether male or female, smokers or not, had a significantly greater chance of having a below-knee amputation.
Overall, non-smokers were found more likely to have a below-knee amputation than an above-knee (p<0.05).
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