Assessment of the prevalence and incidence of chronic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (CPAOD) in the general population makes large, well-designed population surveys mandatory. Data show that symptomatic CPAOD ranges in prevalence from 1 to 3%, whereas the prevalence of asymptomatic CPAOD is about three times as high. The disease is more frequent among men. Its prevalence rises sharply with age, in both sexes. Variations in prevalence among different populations could be attributed to genetic, environmental and socioeconomic factors. Of all the known risk factors, cardiovascular disease, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus and systolic arterial hypertension have a prominent role in the development of CPAOD. Increased mortality in patients with CPAOD is ascribed to its frequent coexistence with other cardiovascular diseases, particularly coronary heart disease.