Peripheral Artery Disease in the Elderly: Prevalence, Clinical Implications, and Therapy

Abstract

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a progressive atherosclerotic occlusive disease associated with aging that affects 8 million Americans. Approximately 20% of Americans older than 70 years of age are affected by PAD. This disease is associated with increased morbidity, reduced quality of life and functional capacity, and premature mortality. Treatment of PAD includes pharmacologic and therapeutic lifestyle changes to improve functional capacity and to modify cardiovascular disease risk factors such as smoking cessation, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Despite tremendous advances in our understanding of PAD and its associated outcomes, PAD remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Further research is needed to fully understand the pathophysiology of PAD and to optimize recognition and treatment of PAD in older patients.

Frequency of lower extremity artery disease in type 2 diabetic patients using pulse oximetry and the ankle-brachial index

“…Although the etiology of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, DM constitutes one of its main risk factors [4]. Its prevalence increases significantly with age, in such a way that from the 5.6% detected in people between 38 and 59 years of age it goes to 15.9-29% between 60 and 69 years [5][6][7]. Currently, it affects more than 200 million people around the world, being one of the most prevalent pathologies and with the highest morbidity and mortality in the world that causes approximately 37.3 billion dollars related to cardiovascular disease and DM [8][9][10].…”