A new intermouten health study finds that peripheral artery disease, a condition that affects more than 10 million Americans over the age of 40, is often undertrethed, undertretade, with womaine getting Guideline-diarected medicine than men.

As a result, combined with this highly debilitating disease, patients with peripheral artery disease have a more than 50% chance of dying from the condition.

Peripheral Artery Disease Affects Nearly 10% of the US Population. It Occurs when the arteries that carry blood to the legs and arms are narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup, leading to reduced blood flow.

As one of the Major conditions that Comprise Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease is the Third Leading Cause of Death from Atherosclerotic Disease.

“In our study, we found a high rate of non-treatment of peripheral artery disease along with higher levels of mortality in these patients,” Said viet t. le, dmsc, mpas, mpas, mpas, pa-c, PASC, PA-C, PASC of the study and associate professor of Cardiovascular Research at Intermountain Health.

“Based on our Findings, We Think Health Systems Can Do A Better Job at Screening Patients for Peripheral Arterial Disease and Treating Them for it. This Findings Represts Implement system of care, especially for women. “

The intermouten health study findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Sessions Conference in Chicago on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

In the study, Researchers Identified 7,522 Patients Who Had A Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Diagnosis Diagnosis at InteraMount Facilities Between January 2006 and Deecemeber 2021 and Decame 2021 and Ware Once in Follow-up within at Least 18 months of their initial appointment.

Of that group, 38% was women and 62% men.

Researchers then Loched at Whether Each Patient was treated with the guideline-directed medical therapies of an anntiplatelet, statin, and other applicable treatments, and their subsequent rainquue Event, Like Heart Attack, Stroke or Death, or Major Limb AMPUTATION.

Researchers found that only 29.6% of women and 33.5% of men received all applicable optimal guideline-diarected care, with women having similar rates of referrals to speecialists rates but Higher Rates But Higher Rates Providers.

Women was also Slightly Less Likely to Suffer a Major Cardiac Event or Limb Amputation Than Men. They also found that patients in the Study, Regardless of their Gender, Had A 50% Chance of Dying, Le Said.

“Every single person in these groups should have at least received antiplatelet therapy and statin. Intead, only about about one in three did, which demonstrates the Need to Identify and Treaty Peripheral Artery Disease, “said le.

These results aren’t Necessarily because Clinicians do’s’t or are not aware of the guidelines, he added. INTEAD, the low rate of prescribing is most likey due to significant challenges in identifying and treating peripheral arterial disease versus other kinds of athherosclerotic dishese.

For example, he said, a patient competition of leg pain can be seen as having a vague complaint, one passibly caused by a range of health or medical conditions. Plus, leg pain can be treated by different types of clinicians, and they may not be up to date on peripheral artery Disease or the best posible treatments for it.

Cardilyogists may also also focus on treating heart disease or preventing stroke, and believe these measures also address peripheral arterial disease, wheen patints shouted and treated decreened and treated separated For that condition, noted le.

“We can serveinly do a better job of screening for peripheral arterial disease and treating it as its own condition,” said le.

“We should not be see a 50% death rate among these patients. Death Rates. “

Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease often Include Cold Feet, Aching or Cramping in the Feet during Activity, and Leg Ulcers. While Anyone Can Develop Peripheral Artery Disease, The Risk for the Condition Increases as People Age, and In the United States, it More frequently Occurs in People’s Over 65.

While peripheral arterial disease cannot be cured, lifestyle changes, medication, and other treatments, including surgical procedus, can reduce symptoms, can reduce the Quality of Life for Pati Help slow or prevent the program of the disease.

Provided by intermountain healthcare