OBJECTIVE:Our aim was to investigate how dyslipidemia was diagnosed and treated in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) in a university vascular clinic. DESIGN:Our analysis included all 1 843 PAD patients (median age 71 years, interquartile range 63-79, M/W 975/868) who attended the clinic in 2002-2003 either for diagnostic angiography or for revascularization. The charts of patients tested for dyslipidemia were reviewed closer. RESULTS:Serum lipids were measured in only 214 PAD patients (11.6%). Of them 37.9% smoked, 59.8% had antihypertensive medication, 35.0% diabetes, and 30.8% a history of coronary heart disease. Mean serum cholesterol concentration was 4.5 mmol/l (SD 1.3), LDL-cholesterol 2.54 (0.48), HDL-cholesterol 1.25 (0.48), and triglycerides 1.62 (0.84). Only 40 patients (19.7%) were using statins, this was increased to 72 (33.6%) after clinic visit. Consequently, 50.0% and 53.2% met the current total cholesterol (<4.5 mmol/l) and LDL-cholesterol (<2.5 mmol/l) goals, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:Dyslipidemia was highly under-diagnosed among PAD patients. Serum lipids were measured only in a minority and among them serum lipid values and the use of hypolipidemic drugs were not optimal according to guidelines.