Patients with peripheral arterial disease have approximately the same relative risk of death from cardiovascular causes as patients with a history of coronary or cerebrovascular disease.
Peripheral arterial disease, which is caused by atherosclerotic occlusion of the arteries to the legs, is an important manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. The age-adjusted prevalence of peripheral arterial disease is approximately 12 percent, and the disorder affects men and women equally (Table 1).7,8 Patients with peripheral arterial disease, even in the absence of a history of myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke, have approximately the same relative risk of death from cardiovascular causes as do patients with a history of coronary or cerebrovascular disease (Table 2).12,15 In patients with peripheral arterial disease, the rate of death from all causes . . .
William R. Hiatt (Thu,) conducted a review in Peripheral arterial disease and claudication. Medical treatment was evaluated. Patients with peripheral arterial disease have approximately the same relative risk of death from cardiovascular causes as patients with a history of coronary or cerebrovascular disease.