Sex differences in peripheral arterial disease: leg symptoms and physical functioning

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Clinical Research
• Biomedical Science

Background:

• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects lower extremity functioning and leg symptoms.
• Understanding sex-based differences in PAD is crucial for targeted treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare lower extremity functioning and leg symptoms between women and men diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 187 women and 273 men with PAD across three Chicago-area medical centers.
• Evaluated walking speed, 6-minute walk distance, physical activity via accelerometry, and a summary performance score.
• The summary performance score integrated walking velocity, chair rise time, and balance.

Main Results:

• Women with PAD were older and had higher rates of spinal stenosis but lower rates of prior leg revascularization and other cardiovascular disease compared to men.
• Women reported significantly more exertional leg pain (27.8% vs 13.2%) than men.
• Women exhibited slower walking speed, shorter 6-minute walk distances, and poorer summary performance scores, even after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions:

• Women with PAD demonstrate a higher prevalence of leg pain and greater walking impairment compared to men.
• Spinal stenosis prevalence in women may contribute to observed sex differences in leg symptoms.
• Reduced leg strength in women may also play a role in their poorer lower extremity functioning.