Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Despite its prevalence and clinical importance, PAD has been historically underappreciated by health care professionals and patients. This underappreciation seems multifactorial eg, limited availability of the first-line diagnostic test, the ankle-brachial index, in clinics; incorrect perceptions that a leg vascular disease is not fatal and that the diagnosis of PAD would not necessarily change clinical practice.
In the past several years, a body of evidence has indicated that these perceptions are incorrect. Several studies have consistently demonstrated that many patients with PAD are not receiving evidence-based therapies.
Thus, this scientific statement provides an update for health care professionals regarding contemporary epidemiology eg, prevalence, temporal trends, risk factors, and complications of PAD, the present status of diagnosis physiological tests and imaging modalities , and the major gaps in the management of PAD eg, medications, exercise therapy, and revascularization. The statement also lists key gaps in research, clinical practice, and implementation related to PAD.
Orchestrated efforts among different parties eg, health care providers, researchers, expert organizations, and health care organizations will be needed to increase the awareness and understanding of PAD and improve the diagnostic approaches, management, and prognosis of PAD. Keywords: AHA Scientific Statements, diagnosis, epidemiology, peripheral artery disease, prognosis, risk factors. Lower extremity peripheral artery disease PAD is atherosclerotic disease of the arteries supplying the legs.
There appear to be several reasons for this underrecognition of PAD. Similarly, PAD is not widely recognized as a disabling condition, whereas stroke is established as the leading cause of disability.
