This proposed study will be conducted to support real-world-evidence on the extent of best medical treatment for secondary prevention of patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) for prevention of worsening limb symptoms or of major adverse cardiovascular events. The overall objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of patient characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes in PAOD patients. For this purpose the investigators will analyze a patient population hospitalized either with intermittent claudication (IC) or chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI) while taking prior PAOD-related diagnoses in the outpatient setting into account. In detail, we study differentials according to age, calendar time, sex, disease severity and hospital procedure. Data were extracted from available German health insurance claims.

1. First clinical diagnosis of symptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (according to Fontaine classification, stages II, III and IV) after at least 5 years without such clinical diagnosis

2. At least 18 years of age

   Exclusion Criteria:

3. Incomplete information on sex, age, date of hospital discharge

4. Less than 5 years of insurance membership before index stay

Patients older than 18 years of age. Treated in outpatient or inpatient facilities for symptomatic peripheral arterial occlussive disease.