The objective was to examine the predictive value of malnutrition, assessed via the Controlling Nutritional status (CONUT) and Prognostic Nutrition Index (PNI) scores, in the development of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) following peripheral vascular intervention (PVI). This retrospective cross-sectional observational study included the enrollment of 243 consecutive patients who underwent PVI. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the occurrence of CA-AKI. Patients with CA-AKI had lower PNI scores and the PNI score was an independent predictor of CA-AKI development (Odds Ratio: 0.518, 95% CI: 2.295-0.908,  = 0.021). Nomogram had higher discriminative ability than both PNI and CONUT scores and discriminative abilities were similar for PNI and CONUT scores. Malnutrition, as identified by the CONUT and PNI, was found to be associated with a high risk of CA-AKI development following PVI.