Risk Factors for Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

The risk factors for PAD are those that are expected for any patient population with atherosclerosis. The most potent risk factors for PAD are age, diabetes mellitus, and cigarette smoking. In addition, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and elevations in plasma homocysteine levels play an important role in promoting peripheral atherosclerosis.

Age
All forms of cardiovascular disease become more prevalent with age, and PAD is particularly prevalent in the elderly. In several studies, the risk of PAD increased approximately twofold for every 10-year increase in age.

Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is a major risk factor for PAD; persons with diabetes were four to five times more likely to develop claudication than nondiabetics. The major risk for PAD due to diabetes appears to be the association of smoking, hypertension, and byperlipidemia with diabetes, and not the degree of glycemic control per se. Thus, diabetes is a critical risk factor in the development of PAD, particularly in conjunction with other risk factors.

Cigarette Smoking
Cigarette smoking is associated with an approximate three- to fourfold increase in risk for peripheral atherosclerosis. In addition, current cigarette smoking also significantly affects PAD outcomes. For example, progression from intermittent claudication to ischemic rest pain with risk of amputation occurs significantly more frequently in patients who continue to smoke than those who are abstinent.

Hyperlipidemia
Independent risk factors for PAD include a reduced HDL cholesterol level, and elevations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein(a). For every 10 mg/dL increase in total cholesterol concentration, the risk of PAD increases approximately 10%.

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Hypertension
The presence of hypertension increases risk of PAD approximately two- to threefold.

Homocysteine
Alterations in homocysteine metabolism are a recognized independent risk factor for PAD. Homocysteine promotes the formation of oxidized LDL cholesterol, endothelial dysfunction, and the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Perhaps the most common cause of elevations in homocysteine levels are nutritional deficiencies of B vitamins, particularly folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12.