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Under-Diagnosis Of Peripheral Arterial Disease Blocks Effective Stroke, Heart Attack Prevention: Presented at AHA

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- November 13, 2000 -- Under-diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is likely to serve as a barrier to effective prevention of myocardial infarction and stroke, the main cardiovascular risks associated with PAD, according to the PARTNERS program data released today at the 73rd annual meeting of the American Heart Association.

PAD is caused by a condition in which the arteries become narrowed due to the formation of plaque inside the artery walls. Left untreated, the plaque can rupture, leading to platelet-induced thrombosis or blood clot formation, a process known as atherothrombosis. This can lead to serious health consequences including heart attack, stroke and vascular death. People with PAD are six times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease within 10 years of diagnosis than those without established PAD.

"PAD is prevalent but under-recognized by both physicians and patients," says Dr. Alan T. Hirsch, Director, Vascular Medicine Program, University of Minnesota Medical School and Co-chair of the PARTNERS program. It is estimated that nearly 25 million people in the U.S. and Europe may be affected by PAD. According to Dr. Hirsch, PAD is easily diagnosed through an ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, a non-invasive procedure that is similar to the routine office blood-pressure test.

In the study known as the PARTNERS (PAD Awareness, Risk and Treatment: New Resources for Survival) program, 6,417 "at-risk" patients -- defined by age 70 years or older or patients 50 to 69 years of age with a history of smoking and/or diabetes -- were screened to assess the prevalence of PAD in a community-based patient population. PAD was defined by an ABI of less than or equal to 0.90, a previous diagnosis of PAD, or prior limb arterial revascularization procedure, such as leg bypass surgery or angioplasty.

"The main goals of the PARTNERS program was to assess the efficacy of a PAD detection algorithm in office practice; to assess current rates of physician and patient PAD awareness; and to evaluate relative atherosclerosis risk factor profiles in patients with PAD or other forms of recognized cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Hirsch.

Results revealed that 29 percent of patients had PAD -- 13 percent of this community population had PAD alone, 16 percent had both PAD and another manifestation of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Another 24 percent had cardiovascular disease only. Forty-seven percent had neither PAD nor cardiovascular disease, and served as a reference population to permit comparisons about the impact of PAD on quality-of-life and treatment intensity.

Only 45 percent of those with PAD alone had been diagnosed with PAD prior to the PARTNERS program. Sixty-five percent of patients with PAD and CVD had an established diagnosis prior to PARTNERS. Patients who did not have a diagnosis of PAD and/or CVD prior to PARTNERS are not likely to have been apprised of their risk of heart attack and stroke.

In addition, the rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and tobacco use were high in the PAD population and less than half of all PAD patients were aware of their diagnosis. When patients do not have awareness of their diagnosis, they may not be able to form a partnership with their community physician to provide life-long care for this disease.

"The results of the PARTNERS program confirm the need to raise awareness and draw attention to the seriousness of peripheral arterial disease and for us to take steps to increase the intensity of treatment for these patients at risk," says Dr. Hirsch. Increased awareness, diagnosis, risk assessment, and early treatment can offer the powerful benefits by preventing costly, debilitating, and mortal events, especially myocardial infarction and stroke, and also by improving quality of life.

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