Peripheral Arterial Disease: Diagnosis And Management

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was a common condition affecting 8 million Americans, often underdiagnosed due to its asymptomatic nature or atypical symptoms. It shared risk factors with other atherosclerotic diseases, such as tobacco use, African American ethnicity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. Diagnosis could be achieved through noninvasive tests like the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), and management included lifestyle changes, such as exercise and smoking cessation, and pharmacotherapy. Cilostazol improved walking distances in patients with intermittent claudication, while statins and antiplatelet therapy, particularly low-dose aspirin, were recommended to reduce cardiovascular risks. The document emphasized the importance of early recognition and comprehensive management of PAD to improve outcomes and reduce mortality, noting a 10-year mortality risk of 40% for PAD patients.