Determinants of Peripheral Arterial Disease in the Elderly

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Abstract
PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL disease (PAD) refers to atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the arterial system distal to the aortic bifurcation, and is a relatively common disorder in the eldery.1,2 Peripheral arterial disease is a manifestation of generalized atherosclerosis, and life expectancy in patients with PAD is reduced compared with subjects without PAD. This is mainly attributable to an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease3-5 in patients with and without complaints of intermittent claudication.5-7 Thus, the ankle-arm systolic blood pressure index (AAI), a relatively easy means of assessing PAD, may be considered a marker of generalized atherosclerosis.8