Research published early online in Circulation has described whether patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) receive appropriate preventative therapies, and whether treatment is associated with reduced mortality in PAD subjects without known cardiovascular disease.
 

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analysed from the period 1999 to 2004 with mortality follow-up through December 31, 2006.

The following results were reported:

• Statin use was reported in only 30.5+/-2.5%, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker use in 24.9+/-1.9%, and aspirin use in 35.8+/-2.9%, corresponding to 5.0 million adults with PAD not taking statins, 5.4 million not taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, and 4.5 million not receiving aspirin.

• After adjustment for age, sex, and race/ethnicity, PAD was associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.9 to 2.9; P<0.0001).

• Even after exclusion of individuals with known cardiovascular disease, subjects with PAD had higher mortality rates (16.1+/-2.1%) than subjects without PAD or cardiovascular disease (4.1+/-0.3%), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 2.8; P=0.001).

• Among PAD subjects without cardiovascular disease, use of multiple preventive therapies was associated with 65% lower all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.20 to 0.86; P=0.02).

The researchers concluded that treatment with multiple therapies is associated with reduced all-cause mortality.