natural history
Last reviewed 05/2021
In patients with only intermittent claudication amputation is not the main threat:
- the risk of death or disease from co-morbid cardiovascular disease is far greater than the risk of major amputation
- in contrast, the 5 year risk of major amputation is only 2%
In patients with critical limb ischaemia the risk of amputation is high:
- more than 12% at 3 months
- the risk is increased if the patient continues to smoke and in diabetics
Ref: Ouriel, K. (2001) Peripheral arterial disease Lancet 2001; 358: 1257–64