The risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke increases with age. The risk of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) also increases with age, starting at age 40. Individuals 70 years of age and over are at risk of peripheral vascular disease mainly due to their age. For example, 15% of individuals over the age of 70 show signs of peripheral vascular disease. This figure rises to 23% in individuals over 80 years of age while it is below 1% in people aged 40 to 49 years.