Epidemiology of Peripheral Artery Disease, Risk Factors, and Trends.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing epidemiological literature without systematic review methodology
PubMed 42559616 · doi:10.1055/a-2832-4161
What was done
This narrative review synthesized epidemiological literature on global peripheral artery disease (PAD) burden, demographic trends, risk factor distributions, and diagnostic patterns.
What was found
PAD affects more than 230 million individuals worldwide, with global prevalence nearly doubling between 1990 and 2021. Prevalence rises from approximately 10% in people aged 55 to 59 years to 60% in those aged 85 years and older. Black individuals experience nearly double the prevalence of non-Hispanic White individuals. Chronic limb-threatening ischemia affects approximately 1.3% of adults aged 40 years and older, with an annual risk of 20% for both mortality and amputation. Modifiable risk factors (smoking, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia) account for roughly 75% of cases. Approximately half of physicians establish a diagnosis despite suggestive symptoms.
Why it matters
PAD is a rapidly growing global disease with severe mortality and limb loss risks that remains widely underdiagnosed in primary and specialty care.
Limits
As a narrative review, the abstract provides secondary estimates without reporting systematic search methods, study inclusion criteria, sample sizes, or statistical uncertainty intervals.
Cited by
- partial Approximately 10% to 15% of Americans have peripheral artery disease.