Kidney disease can make PAD worse

The kidneys are extremely sensitive to any decrease in blood flow, and some people can develop kidney disease as a result of hardening arteries, also called atherosclerosis. This hardening of the arteries can also affect your legs, feet and toes. That means that individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are at a greater risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD).

• Researchers estimate that 24% to 37% of patients with CKD also have PAD.⁴⁴
• 26 million American adults have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and millions of others are at increased risk of the disease.⁴⁵
• PAD is an often overlooked and under-diagnosed condition in patients with CKD.^44,46

Know your risk

If you have poorly functioning kidneys, you might have calcium built up inside your arteries,³⁹ which can limit blood flow to your legs and feet. As the calcium continues to build up, you might be at risk of developing the worst form of PAD, which is called critical limb ischemia (CLI).⁵

Kidney disease also can lead to an increased risk of PAD-related amputation, which can have a significant impact on your quality of life.²⁵ It can also put your life at risk, and kidney disease is a contributing factor to this possible outcome.²⁵