Peripheral Circulation of Veterans and Non-Veterans with Peripheral Artery Disease and Claudication

We compared the peripheral vascular function of veterans and non-veterans with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and claudication. The circulation of the lower extremities was assessed under rest and reactive hyperemia conditions in 413 veterans and in 83 non-veterans. Veterans had more severe PAD as measured by a lower ankle/brachial index (p < 0.001). Following the occlusive test, veterans had a greater relative percentage decrease in ankle systolic blood pressure (p = 0.015), a greater percentage decrease in calf transcutaneous oxygen tension (p = 0.035), and a blunted percentage increase in calf blood flow (p = 0.031). We conclude that veterans with PAD and claudication have greater impairments in macrovascular and microvascular function of the lower extremities, and greater severity of PAD than compared to non-veterans. The greater compromise in peripheral vascular measures in veterans is particularly noteworthy given that the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were not higher.