A population-based study of peripheral arterial disease prevalence with special focus on critical limb ischemia and sex differences.

Objective: A population-based point-prevalence study was conducted to determine the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Sweden, with special attention to critical limb ischemia and sex differences.

Methods: An age-standardized randomly selected population sample of 8000 women and men, aged 60 to 90 years, from four different regions in Sweden was invited to participate. The sample had the same age and gender distribution as the Swedish population in this age group.