Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common condition. Over the past 20 years the risk factors for PAD have changed.
Aims: To identify the regional characteristics of the patients with PAD and the sex- and urban/rural-related differences.
Material and methods: Retrospective study on patients admitted to the Iasi "St. Spiridon' University Hospital in the interval 2007-2012. The dataset was prepared for t student analysis in in view of determining statistical significance.
Results: Of the 361,248 patients admitted to the 20 units of the hospital, 2,623 patients were diagnosed with advanced stages of PAD (Leriche--Fontain III and IV). Significant statistical differences were found between men and women, and between rural and urban men (p = 0.001). 20.5% of the patients underwent amputations.
Conclusions: This is one of the first studies that has identified urban/rural differences. The characteristics specific to PAD patients from North-Eastern Romania are presented.