The Growing Burden of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease and its Attributable Risk Factors in the Eastern Mediterranean Region from 1990 to 2021

Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LEPAD) is a progressive atherosclerotic condition. This study aims to elucidate the incidence, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and death rates associated with LEPAD. Additionally, the attributable risk factors within the EMR demographic are reported, with stratification by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI) from 1990 to 2021. Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 was used. In addition, deaths and DALYs of LEPAD attributable to risk factors were estimated. Accompanying 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) were provided to reflect the combination of data and estimates and findings were presented as absolute counts and age-standardized rates. In 2021, the age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates were 94.7 and 988.4 per 100,000, respectively. Moreover, the age-standardized DALYs and death rates were 7.5 and 0.2 per 100,000, respectively. From 1990 to 2021, significant increase was observed in incidence (17.1%), prevalence (18.7%), DALYs (22.0%), and death (81.0%). Higher incidence and prevalence rates were observed in women and those aged ≥ 95 years. High SDI countries exhibited higher prevalence compared to low-SDI nations. The main risk factor with the greatest burden was high fasting plasma glucose. The prevalence of LEPAD and its associated death and DALY rates have significantly increased in the EMR over the past three decades. The modifiable risk factors should be considered when implementing public health initiatives.