Practical Guide about PAD

↪ Canadian Foundation for Vascular Health 6 Between 20% and 50% of people with PAD have no symptoms. However, an absence of symptoms does not mean that the disease has no consequences. Its presence increases the risk of having a heart attack or stroke by up to 20% five years after the diagnosis. The majority of people (70%-80%) with claudication progress favorably, with their symptoms remaining stable. A minority (10%-20%) will have claudication which worsens and a small proportion (5%-10%) will develop damage which threatens the limb and may even progress into gangrene and potentially amputation. 1 to 3 people in 10 have classic symptoms It has been found that 1 to 3 people in 10 have classic symptoms, i.e., they experience cramping pain in the calf when walking, which is relieved by rest. This pain is called intermittent claudication . In addition, 3 to 4 people in 10 may feel pain when walking which is in a different site, either the thigh or buttock; this is then called atypical claudication .