Global Burden, Attributable Risk Factors, and Future Projections of Lower Extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease Among Postmenopausal Women

Purpose: This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the global burden and attributable risk factors for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (LEPAD) among postmenopausal women, and project future trends. Methods: All data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, stratified by age, sex, and region to evaluate disparities. We performed decomposition analysis to quantify the contributions of population growth, aging, and epidemiological changes, and comparative risk assessment to evaluate attributable risk factors. The Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was applied to project future trends by 2035. Results: In 2021, there were 66,392,811 prevalent cases, 33,854 deaths, and 777,299 DALYs of LEPAD among postmenopausal women globally. Due to population growth and aging, these figures increased by 99.84%, 72.93%, and 73.06%, respectively, compared to 1990. High fasting plasma glucose was the leading attributable risk factor. Projections indicate a continued increase in the global burden by 2035. Conclusion: Our findings reveal a substantial and persistently increasing burden of LEPAD among postmenopausal women globally. Targeted strategies are urgently needed to ensure healthier aging among this vulnerable population. Keywords: lower extremity peripheral arterial disease, postmenopausal women, global burden, risk factors, future trends