Peripheral Arterial Disease: Diagnosis and Management

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was a common but often underdiagnosed condition affecting approximately 8 million Americans, particularly older adults. It shared risk factors with other atherosclerotic diseases, such as tobacco use, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. Diagnosis relied on the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and advanced imaging techniques like CTA and MRA. Management included lifestyle changes, smoking cessation, supervised exercise, and risk factor modification. Cilostazol improved walking distances in patients with intermittent claudication. For those with critical limb ischemia (CLI) or unresponsive claudication, revascularization was recommended. Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were linked to higher mortality and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The document emphasized the importance of early detection and comprehensive management to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.