Abstract
Background: Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a marker of systemic atherosclerosis with an elevated risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. This study was undertaken to identify the prevalence of PAD in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome and do not have previous history of coronary artery disease in order to identify the missed opportunity in treating these patients and potentially avoiding such cardiovascular event.
Methods: We prospectively collected data from consecutive patients who presented with acute coronary events over 4 months. PAD was diagnosed if the Ankle-Brachial index was less than 0.90 and/or if the patient had signs or symptoms suggestive for PAD. Risk factors and risk reduction therapy were compared between patients with and without PAD.
Results: A total of 51 patients were recruited. The mean age for these patients was 62 years and 27% were women. Prevalence of PAD was 45%, of these, 61% were asymptomatic. Prevalence of PAD in patients with no previous history of CAD was 48%, of these, 64% were asymptomatic. There was no difference in atherosclerotic risk factors between patients with PAD compared to patients without PAD. Utilization of risk reduction was suboptimal in patients with PAD; only 61% were on aspirin, 48% were on statin therapy, 43% were on beta-blockers and 30% were on angiotensin converting enzymes inhibitors.
Conclusion: There is a great opportunity in preventing acute coronary events that we are missing. This is can be achieved by recognizing patients with PAD (symptomatic or asymptomatic) and aggressively control their risk factors.