Systemic antiatherosclerotic treatment for the peripheral arterial occlusive disease patient

Symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) is indicative of widespread atherosclerosis. The major threat is from cardiovascular ischaemic events; thus, an important therapeutic goal is to modify atherosclerotic risk factors. Data from several large drug trials indicate that patients with PAD may gain as much, if not more, benefit from aggressive secondary prevention than those with other manifestations of atherothrombosis. In fact, the level of care for patients with PAD is lower as compared with those with ischaemic heart disease, although PAD is defined to be a coronary artery risk equivalent. This paper reviews observational data and generalisation from trials in patients with other manifestations of cardiovascular disease that support the importance of treating key risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia in PAD patients.