Peripheral Artery Disease: Underestimated and Undertreated

Compared against coronary artery disease (CAD) or cerebrovascular disease patients, peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients have lower chances of receiving medication proved to be clinically effective such as statins (despite running the same risk, perhaps even higher risk). 

Enfermedad vascular periférica subestimada y subtratada

The message is we should be more active both in finding risk factors in PAD patients, and in finding PAD in CAD and cerebrovascular patients. 

Claudication symptoms can be underestimated by both patients and doctors when patients consult for a recent myocardial infarction. Likewise, claudication symptoms can be limiting enough to prevent angina from happening. 

This study, including roughly a million patients, was recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Over half of CAD patients (51.7%) were on statins vs 43% who had cerebrovascular disease, and only 33.9% who had PAD. 


Read also: Consensus on How to Conduct Follow-Up in Peripheral Vascular Disease.


And of those with a confirmed diagnostic of the three concurrent conditions, only 57% received statins. 

This study speaks of inadequate treatment according to the clinical practice guidelines, across all the vascular disease spectrum, and not just PAD. 

CAD patients were the ones who presented more events. However, PAD and cerebrovascular patients showed higher all-cause mortality rate. 


Read also: Safety of Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons in Peripheral Vascular Disease.


There are still many wasted opportunities, particularly in PAD patients, but in all patients in general. 

Original Title: Atherosclerotic risk and statin use among patients with peripheral artery disease.

Reference: Colantonio LD et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;76:251-264.


Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

Get the latest scientific articles on interventional cardiology

We are interested in your opinion. Please, leave your comments, thoughts, questions, etc., below. They will be most welcome.

More articles by this author

TCT 2024 | SIRONA: Randomized Study Comparing Sirolimus-Coated vs Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Angioplasty in Femoropopliteal Disease

This prospective, randomized, multicenter, investigator-initiated non-inferiority study compared the use of sirolimus-coated balloon (MagicTouch) vs paclitaxel-coated balloon in endovascular treatment.  The primary objective was to...

TCT 2024 | PEERLESS: Mechanical Thrombectomy with FlowTriever vs Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in Intermediate Risk PTE

Pulmonary embolism (PE) continues to be the third cause of cardiovascular mortality. The current clinical guidelines recommend anticoagulation in intermediate risk patients presenting right...

STEACS and the Use of Bivalirudin vs. Heparin: In Search of BRIGHT-4 Outcomes

Various studies and registries have previously shown the impact of post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) complications on the survival of patients with ST-segment elevation acute...

TAVR and Atrial Fibrillation: What Anticoagulants Should We Use?

The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in TAVR patients ranges from 15 to 30%, depending on series. This arrhythmia has been associated to higher...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

SOLACI Sessionsspot_img

Recent Articles

TCT 2024 | FAVOR III EUROPA

The study FAVOR III EUROPA, a randomized trial, included 2,000 patients with chronic coronary syndrome, or stabilized acute coronary syndrome, and intermediate lesions. 1,008...

TCT 2024 | TRISCEND II

This randomized study included 400 patients; 267 were treated with EVOQUE valve and 133 with optimal medical treatment (OMT). After one-year follow-up, there were no...

TCT 2024 – ACCESS-TAVI: Comparing Percutaneous Access Closure Strategies After TAVI

Vascular access complications following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remain common. However, few studies compare vascular access closure methods.  Based on the CHOICE-CLOSURE and MASH...