Peripheral artery disease

Abstract

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is characterized by blockage of the arteries that supply the lower extremities, often occurring as a result of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. PAD affects approximately 230 million people worldwide, with a growing prevalence owing to population ageing and concomitant cardiovascular risk factors, including smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Patients with PAD have an increased risk of major cardiovascular and limb events, and substantially poorer walking performance compared with those without PAD. The screening and identification of PAD involves clinical and imaging assessments of disease extent and severity and stratification of individual risk to ensure appropriate management. Patients with PAD should be treated with guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), including antithrombotic, lipid-lowering, glucose-lowering and anti-hypertensive therapies, and exercise therapies that aim to improve function as well as cardiovascular and limb outcomes. For patients with compromised limb viability, such as acute and chronic limb-threatening ischaemia, or severe functional impairment that does not improve with exercise training, lower extremity revascularization is recommended. Given the complexity of PAD management, a multidisciplinary vascular team is required to achieve the best individualized treatment. Further research efforts should focus on reducing ischaemic events and health disparities and on optimizing the implementation of GDMT and exercise therapy, as well as improving the quality of life in patients with PAD.