First AIM: PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease)

First AIM: PAD

PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease) is the term used internationally for the Chronic arterial disease of the lower limbs.

During the DAYS and for prevention PAD is central.

It is indeed a widespread disease for which much can be done when diagnosed in time.

PAD patients have a threefold risk: a much higher mortality than the rest of the population, a high presence of non-fatal acute events (heart attack, stroke,  limb amputation etc.) and a poor quality of life.

All these complications have a close relationship with the severity of PAD. Prevent deterioration means, therefore, also to intervene on the prevention of important events and change the fate of the patient. An example is the amputation of the limb. Prevention and follow-up of patients with PAD can prevent the amputation of the limb and make them basically disappear.

It becomes, therefore, also ethically important to provide these patients with the possibility of a low-cost, non invasive early diagnosis.

Given the difficulty of holding constant  population screening campaigns , VAS has launched throughout Europe in collaboration with National  Societies, the campaign for auto-diagnostic suspicion of PAD obtainable through the compilation of a  Questionnaire (attached ) and Self-palpation of the arteries of the foot “FeeTest” (Test your  feet arteries).