Majority of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are affected by coronary artery disease and other vascular complications, often fatal. PAD is, therefore, powerful indicator of a very high risk of death. The main risk factors are smoking and diabetes mellitus; both factors can be corrected very successfully, in theory. In most of patients suffering from PAD mixed dyslipidemia is found, which presents by moderately elevated LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, since PAD patients are at a very high risk of cardiovascular death, even moderately elevated LDL-cholesterol levels are very dangerous and should be kept below 1.4 mmol/l. Therefore, these patients require a comprehensive intervention of all risk factors, smoking eradication, diabetes control, but most importantly, LDL-cholesterol reduction. In the following article practical approach how to get risk factors under control is presented.
Keywords: dyslipidemia; lifestyle management; peripheral artery disease; pharmacotherapy; risk factors.