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Intermittent claudication is pain in the leg that occurs with walking and disappears with rest (Ref. 1)
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The overall prevalence of intermittent claudication is about 4.5% among men and women of age 55-74 (Ref. 2). Diabetes is associated with a 2-3 fold excess risk of the disease (Ref. 3). |
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Intermittent claudication is the first recognizable symptom of chronic arterial occlusion (sometimes called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries). It is caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries. These fatty deposits narrow the arteries and slow the flow of oxygenated blood to the legs. When you exercise, the muscles in your legs may not get enough oxygen and this causes pain. When you rest, your muscles are not working as hard and require less blood flow, so the pain goes away. |
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Normal Artery |
Atherosclerosis |
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- Old age
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol or high blood lipid
- Overweight
- Smoking
- Diabetes
(Ref. 4) |
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In patients with claudication, the severity of the condition increases slowly; 25% have worsening claudication, and 5% undergo an amputation within 5 years (Ref. 5). By 10 years after the onset of symptoms, mortality has increased significantly. Estimated survival at 5 years is 70 to 80%, decreasing to 48% at 10 years and 26% at 15 years. Approximately three fourths of deaths associated with IC have cardiac, cerebral, and other vascular causes and are associated with underlying systemic atherosclerosis (Ref. 6). |
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