Patients with PAD have a 3- to 4-fold higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared to patients without PAD. Risk of future cardiovascular events is comparable between patients with PAD and coronary artery disease (CAD). While improved atherosclerotic risk factor treatment has reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with CAD, such treatment in patients with PAD remains suboptimal. Intensity of cholesterol-lowering therapy, specifically, is significantly poorer in patients with PAD as compared to CAD. Data show that fully 69 percent of patients with PAD from a non-invasive vascular laboratory in Chicago did not have the recommended LDL-C level of less than 100 mg/dl. Our data from a national survey indicate that physicians believe atherosclerotic risk factor treatment is less important for patients with PAD than for patients with CAD. Our data also show that many patients with PAD are unaware of their increased risk of cardiovascular events and under-appreciate the importance of risk factor treatment in PAD. These findings likely contribute to risk factor under-treatment in patients with PAD. Clinical trials such as this are needed to demonstrate whether PAD risk factors can be reduced. If effective, this clinical trial will also encourage clinicians to adopt the proven intervention to lower cardiovascular risks in patients with PAD