CardioVascular Coalition Recognizes PAD Awareness Month

September 1, 2016—The CardioVascular Coalition (CVC), which is composed of cardiovascular and endovascular care providers, physicians, and manufacturers created to advance community-based solutions to improve awareness, prevention, and intervention of vascular disease, is urging health care leaders, policymakers, patient advocates, and other stakeholders to join them in recognizing September as Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month to increase awareness about the disease and treatment options to save limbs and save lives. More information about PAD Awareness Month activities can be found online at www.cardiovascularcoalition.org/pad-awareness-month.

The CVC noted that according to the Amputee Coalition’s National Limb Loss Information Center, 54% of limb loss in the United States is the result of vascular disease, including PAD. Underserved communities are at an even greater risk for both diabetes and PAD.

In the announcement, Jeffrey G. Carr, MD, the physician lead on the CVC, commented, “Early diagnosis and clinically appropriate intervention of PAD are critically important for our patients who, if undiagnosed and untreated, can face limb loss as a result of their disease. Sadly, too many Americans experience limb loss as a result of PAD despite the fact that treatments and technologies are available that can prevent amputation. PAD Awareness Month is an important opportunity to increase awareness, because across the board, Americans know far too little about PAD. By supporting PAD Awareness Month, we hope to change that.”