[Epidemiology of arterial occlusive disease. Peculiarities in advanced age]

Based on data of the Basle Study and on a trial of 225 patients with acute arterial occlusion, findings of frequency and the fate of patients with OPAD are presented. The prevalence of asymptomatic OPAD is three times higher than the symptomatic form with intermittent claudication. This is true especially in older people with concomitant diseases such as CHD masking the claudication. Thus, trophic lesions or acute occlusion may occur unexpectedly. However, patients at risk should be detected at an early stage by non-invasive methods and by the risk profile. Acute arterial occlusions show an impressive symptomatology and are followed by severe consequences: in-hospital mortality was 33% and amputation had to be performed in 19%. In older patients with known disposing diseases acute occlusion can often be avoided by prophylactic measures.