Table 1.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) and evidence-based medicine.

PAD: 10 EVIDENCE-BASED FACTS
The risk of PAD increases substantially with age [15] >50% of PAD patients are asymptomatic [14] The presence of PAD is associated with a 2-fold increase in the prevalence of heart failure [16] 20–30% of individuals with PAD have diabetes mellitus [17] Diabetic patients have 2–4 times the risk of developing PAD, CAD, and ischemic stroke [8] Smokers have 2.5 times the risk of developing PAD [3] Atherosclerosis accounts for more than 90% of cases of PAD [14,18] Compared to whites, the likelihood of PAD is 55% lower among Chinese and 50% greater among African Americans [19] The femoral and popliteal arteries are affected in 80–90% of symptomatic PAD patients [18] The prevalence of amputation in PAD patients is 3–4% [19,20]

PAD: 10 EVIDENCE-BASED FACTS

The risk of PAD increases substantially with age [15]
>50% of PAD patients are asymptomatic [14]
The presence of PAD is associated with a 2-fold increase in the prevalence of heart failure [16]
20–30% of individuals with PAD have diabetes mellitus [17]
Diabetic patients have 2–4 times the risk of developing PAD, CAD, and ischemic stroke [8]
Smokers have 2.5 times the risk of developing PAD [3]
Atherosclerosis accounts for more than 90% of cases of PAD [14,18]
Compared to whites, the likelihood of PAD is 55% lower among Chinese and 50% greater among African Americans [19]
The femoral and popliteal arteries are affected in 80–90% of symptomatic PAD patients [18]
The prevalence of amputation in PAD patients is 3–4% [19,20]