Peripheral artery disease

### What you need to know Peripheral artery disease affects around 13% of the Western population who are more than 50 years old.1 It is most commonly due to atherosclerosis, where an atherosclerotic plaque causes arterial stenosis or occlusion. This results in a reduction in blood flow to the affected limb. Most patients are asymptomatic, but many experience intermittent claudication (pain on walking). Critical limb ischaemia occurs when the...