Age at onset of smoking is an independent risk factor in peripheral artery disease development.

Purpose: The potential effects of age at onset of smoking on cardiovascular diseases have been studied little, in contrast to the well-established evidence supporting a causal role of cigarette smoking in these diseases. We sought to analyze the relationship between age at smoking onset and development of symptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).

Methods: A population-based sample of 573 active or former male smokers aged 55 to 74 years were studied.