Introduction:

Lower limb peripheral artery disease is considered a health problem because it has high rates of morbidity-mortality and non-traumatic amputations. Its presence in adults in the general population is sometimes unknown.

Objective:

Assess by investigation the presence of peripheral artery disease of lower limbs in people of the population over 50 years.

Methods:

Descriptive and analytical study in 235 people over 50 years from different municipalities of the capital. The diagnosis of arterial disease was made by physical examination and hemodynamic study. Sociodemographic variables and some cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed. The reliability level was of 95%.

Results:

Female sex (68.1%), white skin (53.2%) and the age group between 50 and 69 years (68.1%) predominated. There was a higher frequency of the disease in the male sex (70.5%). 55.7% had diabetic macroangiopathy. The prevalences found for peripheral artery disease and risk factors were 51.9% and 91.5%, respectively. 64.7% of people had three or more factors. Hypertension (χ 2 = 23.66; p = 0.0000; OR: 3.88) and obesity (χ 2 = 8,74; p < 0,001; OR: 1,38) were associated with peripheral artery disease.

Conclusions:

People over 50 years of age, males and with more than three risk factors have a high risk of developing peripheral lower limb artery disease.

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