Which area of the body is most commonly affected by chronic limb ischemia?

The area of the body most commonly affected by chronic limb ischemia is the feet and toes. Chronic limb ischemia is a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the limbs, usually due to atherosclerosis, which leads to various complications including pain, non-healing wounds, and ultimately, risk of limb loss if not managed properly.

In chronic limb ischemia, the lower extremities are primarily affected because they are further from the heart and thus encounter greater challenges in receiving adequate blood flow, particularly during physical activities. The feet and toes are particularly vulnerable because they are often the sites where ischemic symptoms manifest first, such as pain during exercise or rest. As the condition progresses, it can lead to critical limb ischemia, resulting in ulcers and gangrene, predominantly in those areas.

While other regions such as the upper arms, lower legs, and hands and fingers can experience vascular issues, they do not typically present the same challenges as the feet and toes when it comes to chronic limb ischemia. The feet tend to be the first and most severe sites for ischemic complications owing to factors such as distance from the heart and the high demand for blood flow during ambulation.