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What Is PAD?
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms or legs. An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from PAD, largely in rural and underserved communities, but many are not aware that they have the disease until drastic medical intervention is required. A severe form of PAD known as critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is a leading cause of the 150,000 preventable amputations that occur each year in the United States, raising medical costs, harming patients’ health, and leading to unnecessary deaths. Fortunately, solutions exist — increase screening for PAD, educate doctors and the public about the disease, and ensure a robust Medicare program that makes care accessible for all.
Care for patients with PAD and CLTI is typically complex, multifaceted, and multidisciplinary, and a team approach should be used in most cases. Interventional cardiologists play a fundamental role in this team approach. Through revascularization, a minimally invasive procedure, interventional cardiologists can restore blood flow in patients suffering from PAD/CLTI and avoid amputation.
An increasingly important area to address for policymakers is health outcomes in America’s growing rural minority population, which grew from 20.2 percent of rural America in 2010 to 24 percent in 2020. Rural areas with high minority populations, most common in Southern and Western states, often face some of the lowest levels of access to care for PAD. Federal action would be most impactful for these communities.
Key Facts
- 33% of PAD patients will die within 5 years of their diagnosis and 20% will experience a heart attack or stroke.
- The total annual economic burden of PAD is estimated between $233-414 billion.
- Black Medicare beneficiaries are three times more likely to receive an amputation due to PAD than non-Black Medicare recipients.
- In 2015, Americans spent $11.3 billion on major amputations and $18.6 billion on minor amputations.
- Between 52%-80% of patients who undergo a major amputation die within five years of the procedure.
- Despite the high economic and human cost of PAD, screening is currently not recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force.
National Action Plan
Tell Congress: Co-Sponsor H.R.307, the Amputation Reduction and Compassion Act to Fight Peripheral Artery Disease
Every day, an estimated 400 Americans lose a limb due to Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)—a largely treatable, manageable condition. Roughly 10-20 million Americans suffer from PAD, yet many remain undiagnosed due to barriers to screening and treatment access.
The Amputation Reduction and Compassion (ARC) Act (H.R. 307) is a bipartisan solution to this crisis. This bill would:
- Require Medicare and Medicaid to cover PAD screenings for high-risk individuals.
- Establish a national PAD awareness program through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve education and early intervention.
More than half of major amputees die within five years. Expanding access to screening and preventive care can save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and improve patient health outcomes.