Utilization of evidence-based cardiovascular therapies and achievement of therapeutic goals in patients with peripheral artery disease.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Patients with peripheral artery disease have a high risk of cardiovascular events and death. The rate of prescription of evidence-based cardiovascular therapies and the attainment of therapeutic goals in this population is suboptimal. There are no previous studies evaluating the rate of prescription of these therapies in our country. METHODS PERIFERICA is a cross-sectional study conducted from May to December 2009 in 440 outpatient clinics of general practitioners, internal medicine, cardiology, vascular surgery, endocrinology, and nephrology specialists throughout Spain. Subjects were included if they were aged ≥45 years and had peripheral artery disease and a blood sample obtained during the previous 6 months. Patients were excluded if they had coronary or cerebrovascular diseases. Clinical and anthropometric variables and blood analysis were obtained in all participants. RESULTS In total, 4087 patients were included in the study (mean age, 68 years; 74% men). There was a high prevalence of diabetes (50%) and hypertension (90%); 79% of participants received lipid-lowering drugs (76% statins), 85.5% antihypertensive drugs (66% renin-angiotensin blockers) and 83% antithrombotics (75% antiplatelet drugs and 11% anticoagulants). In addition, 30% of subjects had a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration n<100 mg/dL, 29.5% had optimal control of blood pressure, and 74.5% did not smoke. Only 8% had a good control of all of their cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS Although a high percentage of subjects with peripheral artery disease receives adequate treatment with evidence-based preventive therapies, the percentage of subjects with good control of all their risk factors is low.