title: Epidemiological characteristics of peripheral artery disease: retrospective study.
abstract: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common condition. Over the past 20 years the risk factors for PAD have changed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the regional characteristics of the patients with PAD and the sex- and urban/rural-related differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study on patients admitted to the Iasi "St. Spiridon' University Hospital in the interval 2007-2012. The dataset was prepared for t student analysis in in view of determining statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 361,248 patients admitted to the 20 units of the hospital, 2,623 patients were diagnosed with advanced stages of PAD (Leriche--Fontain III and IV). Significant statistical differences were found between men and women, and between rural and urban men (p = 0.001). 20.5% of the patients underwent amputations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is one of the first studies that has identified urban/rural differences. The characteristics specific to PAD patients from North-Eastern Romania are presented.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa"--Iasi.
authors: Setalia
authors: S
authors: Popa
authors: Discipline of Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa"--Iasi.
authors: Genoveva
authors: G
authors: Baroi
authors: Discipline of Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa"--Iasi.
authors: R F
authors: RF
authors: Popa
authors: Discipline of Internal Medicine-Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa"--Iasi.
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Datcu
authors: Discipline of Internal Medicine-Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa"--Iasi.
authors: Viviana
authors: V
authors: Aursulesei
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*