Peripheral vascular disease in Australia
Recent releases
Cardiovascular disease and its associated risk factors in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2004-05 (5 June 2008) (media release and publication)
Comorbidity of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease in Australia (9 August 2007) (media release and publication)
Popular titles
 Australia's health 2008 |
 Australia's welfare 2007 |
What is peripheral vascular disease?
Peripheral vascular disease (also known as peripheral artery disease) refers to diseases of arteries outside the heart and brain. It occurs when fatty deposits build up in the inner walls of these arteries and affect blood circulation, mainly in the arteries leading to the legs and feet. It ranges from asymptomatic disease, through pain on walking, to pain at rest and limb-threatening reduced blood supply that can lead to amputation.
Key facts
| Prevalence - number of Australians with condition in 2004-05 | unknown |
|---|---|
| Incidence - new cases | unknown |
| Hospitalisations in 2006-07 | 25,813 |
| Deaths in 2006 | 2,163 |
Did you know?
- Peripheral vascular disease occurs mainly among older people, and is likely to increase significantly as the population ages.
- The major preventable risk factors for peripheral vascular disease are diabetes, tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and overweight and obesity.
More information
Publications showing detailed statistics (free full text)
Hospitalisations from peripheral vascular disease (hospital data cubes)