Burden of Peripheral Artery Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean 1990 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: The estimated global prevalence of Peripheral artery disease (PAD) increased by 24% in span of 10 years (2000-2010) from 164 to 202 million. Despite scarcity of data on PAD in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the Caribbean, estimates for PAD from these regions may be helpful for health-care providers.

METHODS: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 quantified health loss from hundreds of diseases using systematic reviews and multilevel computer modeling. Estimated rates with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) for PAD (ICD-10 I70.2) were examined for SSA and the Caribbean and compared to high-income North America (HINA). Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are years of healthy life lost representing total disease burden by combining years of life lost and years lived disabled.

RESULTS: In 2015, estimated age-standardized DALYs per 100,000 due to PAD for males were as follows: Caribbean (34, UI: 29-39), HINA (36, UI: 30-42), and SSA (20, UI: 14-30). In contrast, DALYs in females were as follows: Caribbean (25, UI: 20-30), HINA (28, UI: 22-36), and SSA (17, UI: 11-26). For both sexes combined, the rate in Southern SSA was 55 (46-67). This reflects the extremely high rates in South Africa (males 90, UI: 77-107; females 63, UI: 53-75).

CONCLUSION: Estimated rate of DALYs per 100,000 was lowest in SSA. Within SSA, the rate in South Africa was highest, exceeding even HINA. Caribbean rates were intermediate.