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In this Issue
The P.A.D. Coalition thanks our corporate partners:
Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership Cordis Endovascular
Bronze Abbott Vascular
Contributing Partner AnGes, Inc.
The P.A.D. Coalition is a division of the Vascular Disease Foundation.
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eNews from the P.A.D. Coalition The P.A.D. Coalition eNewsletter provides you the latest updates on Coalition activities, resources and upcoming plans. We hope you find this information helpful. Please forward this e-newsletter to your organization's members and your colleagues to keep them informed of Coalition efforts. If you have any questions or comments, please contact info@PADcoalition.org. National Minority Quality Forum Launches Advanced, Precision Tracking Tool to Address Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease 
The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF), one of the nation’s leading voices in the health disparities discussion, launched the PAD Atlas, a database that maps by zip code PAD down to the street level, with the PAD Coalition and support from the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership . Prevalence data are derived from the Fourth National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES IV, 1999–2004), a cross-sectional survey that provides national estimates of disease prevalence. Researchers, patient advocacy groups, legislators and health professionals can use the PAD Atlas to identify prevalence of PAD at the national, state, and local levels to direct educational resources where they are needed most. To access the PAD Atlas, visit www.mappad.org. New Patient Resource Available! - 100 Questions & Answers About Peripheral Artery Disease 
If you or someone you know suffers from PAD, a new book can offer help and hope. 100 Questions and Answers About Peripheral Artery Disease provides clear, authoritative answers to common questions raised by patients and their families as they navigate the world of PAD. PAD experts and Coalition leaders Drs. Alan Hirsch and Emile Mohler, III have written an accessible and informative book for patients who want to understand their illness more clearly. Featuring information about common symptoms, the diagnosis process and treatment options, this text is an invaluable resource for anyone coping with the physical and emotional aspects of PAD. For clinicians, this book is a great resource to make available through your practice. A portion of proceeds from sales will benefit the Vascular Disease Foundation and its PAD Coalition. To order, click here. Top Research Advances Highlight New Approaches To Cardiovascular Risk Prediction, Reinforce Dangers Of Asymptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease The PAD Coalition announced the Coalition’s third annual Best PAD Research Awards for papers published in 2008 at the organization’s sixth annual meeting in September in Washington, DC. The Best PAD Research Awards honor the work of investigators and acknowledge the creation of new clinical research relevant to the understanding and/or treatment of peripheral arterial disease. The Best PAD Research Award in Epidemiology/Preventive Medicine was presented to Gerry Fowkes, professor of Epidemiology, Public Health Sciences Section, Division of Community Health Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Fowkes and his fellow researchers that comprise the international Ankle Brachial Index Collaboration were recognized for their work on the research study, “Ankle Brachial Index Combined With Framingham Risk Score to Predict Cardiovascular Events and Mortality: A Meta-analysis,” published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA. 300:197-208, 2008). The Best PAD Research Award in Vascular Medicine went to Mary M. McDermott, MD, professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Dr. McDermott and her colleagues were recognized for their work on the research study, “Asymptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease Is Associated With More Adverse Lower Extremity Characteristics Than Intermittent Claudication,” published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association (Circulation. 117:2484-2491, 2008). For more details and study implications, click here. 
To date, nearly 1,000 people have signed the Coalition’s Stop PAD petition. This petition drive was launched last month to urge President Obama and Congress to increase access to evidence-based health care for individuals with PAD. PAD is easily diagnosed through the ankle-brachial index (ABI), a non-invasive, cost-effective test that compares the leg blood pressure to arm blood pressure. Medicare currently offers PAD testing for patients with leg symptoms, however, PAD is most often asymptomatic. PAD care guidelines developed by leading vascular groups recommend testing in individuals at highest risk for having the disease, including adults over age 50 with a history of diabetes or smoking and all adults over 70 years of age. The PAD Coalition aims to collect at least ten thousand signatures and will deliver the petition to Congressional leadership. Click here to sign the petition. Free Clinician Toolkits Available for Health Professional Education Programs 
The American Heart Association and PAD Coalition have produced a clinician toolkit to help health professionals integrate the ACC/AHA Guidelines for the Management of Patients with PAD into practice. This kit includes a condensed, easy-to-read reference on the intersocietal PAD guidelines, an instructional DVD on conducting the ABI, and patient education materials. These toolkits are available free in bulk and are ideal for local professional education efforts. To receive copies, please send your name, shipping address and desired quantity to info@padcoalition.org. Please order in lots of 50s. |
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