What does cause peripheral artery disease, and what are its risk factors?
The most significant risk factors for peripheral artery disease are smoking and diabetes mellitus. Inflammation and thrombosis, high lipoprotein A and homocysteine levels, and chronic kidney disease increase the risk of peripheral artery disease by 1.5 times. High risky populations include:
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- People with leg symptoms, exertion, or ischemic rest pain
- People aged 65 years and more
- People between 50 and 69 years old and have a cardiovascular problem
- People with an abnormal lower extremity pulse examination
- People with coronary, carotid, or renal artery disease
- People with a Framingham risk score of 10%–20%
- People with experienced chest pain
1. Family history and old age also have an association with that disease. Peripheral artery disease is associated with coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease because both are present in more than half the patients who have peripheral artery disease. Two population studies found that more than 95% of patients have a minimum of one cardiovascular risk factor.
2. Atherosclerosis represents the most common cause of this disease. However, the less common causes include inflammatory disorders of the arterial wall and noninflammatory arteriopathies.
3. Some studies suggested that 50% of all patients are smokers. Heavier smokers develop peripheral artery disease more than light smokers. Also, former smokers have an increased risk compared with never smokers.
4. By the same pattern, poor diabetes control increases the risk of peripheral artery disease. Patients with diabetes may be asymptomatic due to the co-existence of neuropathy in a substantial proportion. 50% of patients with diabetic foot ulcers have peripheral artery disease. Studies conducted in diabetic patients found that the duration of diabetes mellitus, the level of glycemic control assessed by glycated haemoglobin, and the use of insulin are associated with peripheral artery disease.
5. If you have elevated blood pressure, you are at risk for peripheral artery disease. Hypertension is second to current smoking as the most contributive risk factor in the population.
6. Also, dyslipidemia may ride you to the same disease with increased total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides are associated with peripheral artery disease.
7. Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is less consistent for peripheral artery disease. There is no association between alcohol and claudication incidence, but the positive correlation of alcohol consumption with smoking is a significant risk factor for peripheral artery disease.
