The progression rate of peripheral arterial disease in patients with intermittent claudication: a systematic review.

Intermittent claudication (IC) is the most common symptom of peripheral arterial disease and is generally treated conservatively due to limited prognostic evidence to support early revascularisation in the individual patient. This approach may lead to the possible loss of opportunity of early revascularisation in patients who are more likely to deteriorate to critical limb ischaemia. The aim of this review is to evaluate the available literature related to the progression rate of symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.