Introduction:

Peripheral arterial disease is currently considered a true epidemic. Estimates indicate that it can affect 10% of individuals over 55 years of age. The main problem of the disease is its diagnostic and therapeutic underestimation, due to the modification of risk factors, the use of antiplatelet drugs, and the treatment of symptoms.

Objective:

To identify the cardiovascular risk factors in ambulatory patients with peripheral arterial disease of lower limbs in its initial stages.

Methods:

A cross-sectional descriptive-retrospective study was carried out in a sample of 57 patients with diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease of lower limbs in its initial stages and who attended an outpatient department of arteriology for two years. The variables studied included clinical ones and of laboratory, as well as some cardiovascular risk factors, such as age, sex, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hyperlipidemia, and microalbuminuria.

Results:

A predominance of the male sex was found (57.8%). 100% of the patients smoked. The presence of elevated laboratory variables was evidenced, a fact consistent with the presence of cardiovascular risk factors from the early stages of the disease.

Conclusions:

In the initial stages of the disease, ambulatory patients were identified, as well as some cardiovascular risk factors in early stages of the disease.

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