Asymptomatic peripheral artery disease: Silent but deadly

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis characterized by diminished perfusion of the limb and a state of dysmetabolism. The asymptomatic PAD phenotype is a relatively recent classification. It is unknown how many people currently live with asymptomatic PAD because there are no universal screening recommendations for patients at risk for PAD. Patients with asymptomatic PAD suffer from a similar risk profile of morbidity and mortality as their counterparts with claudication. Despite this increased risk, there is a dearth of clinical investigations into therapies that specifically benefit the asymptomatic PAD population. At present, current pharmacotherapies that have been studied in PAD patient populations do not stratify by symptom status. We believe that further investigation of the impact of existing therapies in this unique population presents an opportunity to reduce morbidity and mortality due to PAD. This can only be achieved in combination with wide-spread adoption of screening for asymptomatic PAD. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis that can lead to reduced perfusion of the limb and metabolic dysregulation. The classification of asymptomatic PAD is relatively new, and there is a lack of clinical research on therapies for this population, presenting an opportunity for further exploration. Widespread screening for asymptomatic PAD could potentially reduce morbidity and mortality associated with PAD.