Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a condition characterised by atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities, low functional capacity and low exercise tolerance. Little empirical data are available concerning the cardiovascular response to maximum exercise tests in patients with PVD. The purpose of this study was to examine cardiovascular variables in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Fifty patients (67 ± 9 years) completed an incremental exercise test (2 min stages, 3.2 km/h, with increases of 2% every 2 min) to maximum claudication pain. Peak oxygen uptake ([vdot]O_2peak) was assessed on a breath-by-breath basis by online expiratory gas analysis (CardiO2, Medical Graphics Corp., St Paul, MN, USA). Following a 30 min rest period, patients exercised at the highest level attained during the first test and cardiac output ([qdot]_T) was measured using the non-invasive rebreathing method (Defares, 1958). Cardiac power output peak (CPO_peak), in Watts (W), was then computed using the equation described by Cooke et al. (1998). Mean ± SD values were; [vdot]O_2peak 13.85 ± 4.14 ml kg min^-1; maximum walk time (MWT) 357 ± 227 s; mean arterial pressure peak 127 ± 15 mmHg; [qdot]_T 9.8 ± 2.39 l min^-1; CPO 2.86 ± 0.87 W. Regression analysis showed CPO scaled for weight to be the best independent predictor of MWT (r = 0.606, Standard error of estimate, 3.31). Patients with peripheral vascular disease demonstrate attenuated levels of cardiovascular capacity, equivalent to values reported for heart failure patients (Williams et al. 2001). Measurement of CPO may provide additional information to stratify individuals who are at a higher risk of mortality.