Nicholas J. Giacomini, BS, Research Assistant, University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Systems, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Roberta K. Oka, RN, ANP, DNSc, Associate Professor, University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Systems, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common but frequently undetected and undertreated condition among older adults. Untreated PAD and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors results in functional impairment, poor quality of life and increased risk for cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. The increased risk for CVD events associated with PAD necessitates raising public awareness of PAD and the potential impact on health, and placing greater emphasis by providers on detection and management of PAD to maximize survival and life quality. This article briefly describes the detection and medical management of PAD, with greater emphasis on lifestyle modification among older adults with PAD.
Key words: vascular disease, cardiovascular disease, risk factor reduction, lifestyle modification.