title: Significance of close surveillance of patients with peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) indicates generalized atherosclerosis but is still underdiagnosed and undertreated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from patients with PAD from the Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University of Heidelberg, Germany. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and medication were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atherogenic risk factors, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease were highly prevalent. By continuous care at the university clinic, in addition to family medicine treatment, the use of platelet inhibitors, antihypertensives, and lipid-lowering therapy was increased. Ankle-brachial index and walking distance improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term treatment at the university clinic had positive effects on atherogenic risk factors. The regular use of secondary preventive medication was improved. Still, this patient population remained undertreated and showed a high incidence of vascular event rates and a need for vascular interventions. This study implies the importance of both specialists and general practitioners in the care of these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. robinjoyce.barrows@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Robin Joyce
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Barrows
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Krumsdorf
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zankl
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katus
authors.forename: Christiane Pia
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Tiefenbacher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle / Q000098:blood supply; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents