Raising awareness of peripheral artery disease in women

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common, chronic atherosclerotic disease affecting millions of individuals that causes a major impact on morbidity and cardiovascular mortality. Although the gender-and age-specific prevalence of PAD has been well-defined from published population-based studies, the clinical relevance of these data has not been fully recognized by the public and health professionals. These health facts are now revealing that women suffer the consequences of PAD at rates at least as high as those observed in men. Additionally, PAD is more common in African-Americans over the age of 50 years than in non-Hispanic caucasians, suggesting that African-American women are at particularly high risk for developing PAD. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, making it imperative that the contribution of PAD be included in all future women's 'heart health efforts'.