Education & TrainingCommercialDecember 1, 2024

Detect peripheral artery disease earlier with an ankle‑brachial index screening

  • Up to 12 million Americans are affected by peripheral artery disease (PAD),2,3 yet as few as ~ 1/3 of PAD patients receive medical therapies.4
  • Black Americans are more than 2x as likely to have PAD compared to white Americans.5
  • Patients with PAD have a higher risk of amputation and an associated risk of mortality.6
  • Early diagnosis and management of PAD can help treat symptoms and reduce risk for serious complications.1
  • Consider diagnostic testing with an ankle‑brachialindex (ABI).7
  • The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommendations:
    • Early detection of PAD is essential to prevent lower extremity amputations and to reduce heart attack, stroke, and death.8
    • A resting ABI is recommended to establish PAD diagnosis.9
    • Watching for predominant risk factors: diabetes and smoking. Patients with both are at the highest risk for PAD morbidity and mortality, including limb loss.8

For more information about risk factors and symptoms associated with PAD as well as how you can diagnose PAD in patients and potentially reduce risk of lower limb ischemia, please see the attachment to learn more.

References:
1 NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. What is PAD? National Institutes of Health; August 2006. NIH publication 06‑5835. Accessed September 17, 2024. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/heart/pad_extfactsheet_aa_508.pdf
2 Virani SS, Alonso A, Aparicio HJ, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2021 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2021;143(8):e254‑e743.
3 Gonçalves‑MartinsG, Gil‑SalaD, Tello‑DíazC, et al. Prevalence of peripheral arterial disease and associated vascular risk factors in 65‑years-old people of northern Barcelona. J Clin Med. 2021;10(19):4467.
4 Berger JS, Ladapo JA. Underuse of prevention and lifestyle counseling in patients with peripheral artery disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;69(18):2293‑2300
5 NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Facts about peripheral artery disease (PAD) for African Americans Fact Sheet. Published December 2021. Accessed September 17, 2024. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/peripheral-artery-disease/symptoms
6 Conte MS, Bradbury AW, Kolh P, et al. Global vascular guidelines on the management of chronic limb‑threatening ischemia. J Vasc Surg. 2019;69(6S):3S‑125S.e40.
7 Aboyans V, Criqui MH, Abraham P, et al. Measurement and interpretation of the anklebrachial index: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2012;126(4):2890‑2909.
8 American Heart Association. PAD National Action Plan. May 2022. Accessed September 17, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/health‑topics/peripheral‑artery-disease/pad‑resources/pad‑action-plan
9 Gerhard‑HermanMD, Gornik HL, Barrett C, et al. 2016 AHA/ACC guideline on the management of patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2017;135(12):e686‑e725.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.

GABCBS-CM-072915-24

PUBLICATIONS: December 2024 Provider Newsletter