Outcomes of medical management of peripheral arterial disease in general practice: follow-up results of the PACE-PAD Study

摘要

Aim Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a marker of elevated vascular risk, is highly prevalent in general practice. We aimed to investigate patient characteristics and outcomes of PAD patients treated according to the guidelines versus those who were not. Methods The Patient Care Evaluation-Peripheral Arterial Disease Study (PACE-PAD) was a multicenter, cluster randomized, prospective, longitudinal cohort study of patients with PAD in primary care, who were followed up for death or vascular events over 18 months. Guideline orientation was assumed if patients received anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy, exercise training, and (if applicable) advice for smoking cessation and therapy of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or hypercholesterolemia, respectively.