risk factors

Last edited 06/2018 and last reviewed 05/2021

The risk factors for peripheral arterial disease are almost identical to those for atherosclerosis elsewhere:

  • increasing age - about 20% of people aged over 60 years have some degree of peripheral arterial disease (1)
  • male sex
  • smoking - two to three fold increase in risk
  • hypertension:
    • 2.5 fold increased risk in men
    • 3.9 fold increased risk in women
  • diabetes - two to three fold increase in risk
  • syndrome X
  • hyperlipidaemia:
    • a high cholesterol to HDL ratio gives highest risk
  • hyperhomocysteinaemia (3)


Reference: