Asymptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease Is Independently Associated With Impaired Lower Extremity Functioning

BACKGROUND: We report the implications of asymptomatic lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) for lower extremity functioning among participants in the Women's Health and Aging Study, an observational study of disabled women > or = 65 years of age living in and around Baltimore. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ankle brachial index (ABI) and measures of upper and lower extremity functioning were measured among study participants. Of 933 women with ABI < or =1. 50, 328 (31%) corrected had an ABI <0.90, consistent with PAD. Sixty-three percent of PAD participants had no exertional leg pain. Among participants without exertional leg pain, lower ABI levels were associated with slower walking velocity, poorer standing balance score, slower time to arise 5 times consecutively from a seated position, and fewer blocks walked per week, adjusting for age, sex, race, cigarette smoking, and comorbidities. ABI was not associated independently with measures of upper extremity functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic PAD is common and is independently associated with impaired lower extremity functioning. In addition to preventing cardiovascular morbidity and death, further study is warranted to identify effective interventions to improve functioning among the growing number of men and women with asymptomatic PAD.