Body mass index and peripheral artery disease

An independent association of body mass index (BMI) with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is somewhat controversial and may differ by vascular bed. Sex-specific risk factors for atherosclerosis may further modify these associations. Obesity and peripheral artery disease (PAD) are both more prevalent in women. We sought to determine the association between PAD and BMI using a very large population-based study. Self-referred individuals at >20,000 US sites completed medical questionnaires including height and weight, and were evaluated by screening ankle brachial indices (ABI) for PAD (ABI3 million persons, there was a J-shaped association of BMI with prevalent PAD.•Overweight individuals (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2) exhibited the lowest PAD prevalence.•The association of obesity with PAD was markedly stronger in women than men.