Thousands in Nashville May Be Affected by Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
April is National Minority Health Month
NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PAD is the biggest disease that most people have never heard about. Up
to a staggering 18 million Americans1 suffer from PAD, a
potentially life-threatening disease. As many as 27,100 people in the
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin metro area may have PAD,2,3
a condition where plaque builds up along blood vessel walls, narrowing
the arteries and reducing blood flow to the legs and feet.
There are more than 160,000 PAD-related amputations in the U.S. each
year, so when left untreated, PAD can lead to amputation.4
And the rate of amputation for African-American and Hispanic-Americans
with PAD is higher than for white Americans.
-
African-Americans are twice as likely to be amputated as a result of
advanced PAD as Caucasians.5 -
Hispanics receive an amputation for PAD at a rate 50 percent higher
than Caucasians.5
A new study published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health
Disparities, “Explaining Racial Disparities in Amputation Rates for
the Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) using Decomposition
Methods,” concludes that compared to Caucasians, African-Americans and
Hispanic-Americans have less access to limb-saving PAD procedures
because they are being admitted to the hospital for treatment when they
are sicker and more likely on an emergency basis.5
Some studies suggest that African-Americans may not feel the symptoms as
early as Caucasians, therefore they do not seek treatment as early.6
A simple screening test, called an ankle-brachial index (ABI), in which
the blood pressure in a person’s ankle is compared to the blood pressure
in the arm, can be used to identify PAD in people who are at risk.
A national campaign, Take A Stand Against Amputation, is seeking
to raise awareness of PAD and to encourage people with symptoms to talk
to a doctor about the disease. The campaign website, www.StandAgainstAmputation.com,
contains useful information about the disease, its risk factors,
symptoms and treatment options. The campaign is gaining visibility in
the Nashville area. Local resident and gospel singer, Dr. Bobby Jones,
lent his voice to building PAD awareness in this area by hosting a
gospel festival last September at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Antioch.
About National Minority Health Month
The U.S. Office of
Minority Health’s theme for this year’s National Minority Health Month
is Bridging Health Equity Across Communities. Throughout April,
the office will work with its partners to raise awareness about efforts
across health, education, justice, housing, transportation and
employment sectors to address the factors known as the social
determinants of health – environmental, social and economic conditions
that impact health. More information is available on the office’s
website, www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov.
About Take A Stand Against Amputation
Take A Stand Against
Amputation is sponsored by Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., headquartered
in St. Paul, Minn. StandAgainstAmputation.com offers educational
information about peripheral artery disease (PAD). The website includes
a PAD risk factor checklist people can use to talk to health care
professionals to help assess if they have PAD or are at risk. The
website also provides a tool to help people find a physician or surgeon
who is experienced using CSI’s device to treat indicated patients with
PAD. For physicians and health care clinics, the website offers free
education tools they can download, print and distribute to their
patients.
About Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
Cardiovascular Systems,
Inc., based in St. Paul, Minn., is a medical device company focused on
developing and commercializing innovative solutions for treating
vascular and coronary disease. For more information, visit the company’s
website at www.csi360.com.
References:
1Schiavetta A, et al. Stem Cells
Translational Medicine. 2012; 1:572-578. and Sage Report 2010.
2Stay
in Circulation. Peripheral Artery Disease. National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute (NIH) https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/pad/docs/pad_extfctsht_general_508.pdf.
Accessed April 4, 2017.
3Calculation based on figure 1
in 20 Americans over 50 have PAD; Population of
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin metro area over 50 is estimated
by the census to be 542,649 in 2015. Resulting in 27,132 affected
by PAD. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Annual Estimates of the
Resident Population for Selected Age Groups by Sex for the United
States, States, Counties and Puerto Rico Commonwealth and Municipios:
April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015. Released June 2016. U.S. Census Bureau,
2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_15_5YR_S0101&prodType=table.
Accessed April 4, 2017.
4Allie et al. J Endovasc Ther.
2009 Feb; 16 Suppl 1:134-46.
5Mustapha, J.A., Fisher,
B.T., Rizzo, J.A. et al. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (2017).
doi:10.1007/s40615-016-0261-9.
6Criqui, M. & Aboyans, V;
Circ Res. 2015;116:1509-1526.
Contacts
The Deciding Factor
Karen Vance, 513-459-9064
Director
of Digital & Content
Mobile: 513-503-2337
karen.vance@decidingfactor.us
