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Peripheral arterial disease — a cardiovascular time bomb

Vascular Diseases Research Unit, The Institute of Cardiovascular Research, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital C and Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY, Scotland, J.J.F.Belch{at}Dundee.ac.uk

Gerry Stansby

The Northern Vascular Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK

Cliff Shearman

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 6YD, UK

Julie Brittenden

Department of Surgery, Polwarth Building, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN, Scotland

Shiela Dugdill

Northern Vascular Centre, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, High Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK

Gerry Fowkes

Wolfson Unit for Prevention of Peripheral Vascular Disease, University of Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland

Sarah Jarvis

Richford Gate Medical Practice, Richford Gate Primary Care Centre, Richford Street, London, W6 7HY, UK

Terrie Mccann

The Circulation Foundation, 35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE

Andrew Mimnagh

Eastview Surgery, 81 Crosby Road North, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 4QD, UK

David Monkman

East Barnet Health Centre, 149 East Barnet Road, New Barnet, Herts, EN4 8QZ, UK

Jonathan Morrell

21 Beaconsfield Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3TW, UK

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a reliable marker of future vascular disease and is a substantial public health issue. In Europe and North America, 27 million people are estimated to have PAD, and in the UK around 100,000 people are diagnosed every year. People with PAD are six times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease within 10 years than people without PAD. Evidence suggests that aggressive risk factor management will prevent many premature deaths and associated morbidity. Therefore, it is vital to identify patients and initiate effective management strategies swiftly. However, whilst 40% of PAD patients have symptomatic disease ranging from intermittent claudication to critical limb ischaemia, around 60% are asymptomatic. As a result of the low rates of detection PAD is underdiagnosed and undertreated in the UK. The gravity of the problem has prompted the formation of professional bodies to address this situation through the development of national clinical guidelines. Indeed, with the focus of general practitioners' work covered by the quality and outcomes framework in the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, many consider that the inclusion of PAD in the GMS contract is critical to raising awareness and improving the management of PAD in primary care.

Key Words: cardiovascular disease • peripheral arterial disease • quality and outcomes framework.

The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, Vol. 7, No. 5, 236-239 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/14746514070070050701


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				J. Belch and G. Stansby Peripherial arterial disease indicators should be included in Quality Outcomes Frameworks The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, January 1, 2008; 8(1): 5 - 6. [PDF]