Who Is At Risk for Peripheral Arterial
Disease?
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects 8 to 12
million people in the United States. An estimated 5 percent of U.S. adults over
age 50 have PAD. Among adults age 65 and older, 12 to 20 percent may have
PAD.
Major Risk Factors
Major risk factors for developing PAD include:
- Smoking. Smoking is more closely related to
developing PAD than any other risk factor. Smoking increases the risk of
developing PAD three to five times. On average, smokers who develop PAD
experience symptoms 10 years earlier than nonsmokers who develop PAD. Stopping
smoking will slow the progress of PAD. Smoking even one or two cigarettes daily
can interfere with the treatment for PAD. Smokers and diabetics have the
greatest risk of complications from PAD, including gangrene in the leg from
decreased blood flow.
- Chronic or serious illnesses, such as diabetes.
One in three people over age 50 with diabetes is likely to have PAD. Anyone
over age 50 with diabetes should be screened for PAD.
- Other diseases and conditions, such as:
- Kidney disease
- High blood pressure or a family history of it
- A high cholesterol level or a family history
of it
- Heart disease or a family history of it
- A family history of
stroke
- Age. Men who are older than age 50 and women who
are older than age 55 are at higher risk for PAD.
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