In a study published in the August issue of the Journal, Vascular Surgery, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have found that certain risks factors put people younger than 60 more at risk of premature peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The findings were based on the study done on nearly 2,500 people younger than 60 and a similar number of people over 60.
Peripheral vascular disease is a narrowing of blood vessels that restricts blood flow. It mostly occurs in the legs, but is sometimes seen in the arms. The disease can have serious consequences including limb loss and death. About 1.44 million people in the United States are affected by the disease.Coronary artery disease and elevated serum fibrinogen levels were found to be strong risk factors for PVD in people under age 60, while chronic renal failure was strongly associated with PVD among those over age 60. Doctors need to be aware of these two important risk factors for PVD in people under age 60, the study authors said.
Smoking, hypertension, and male gender were the other risk factors associated with PVD regardless of age with smoking a major risk factor for PVD.
