September is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month, a time to act against a disease that affects millions of Americans but is too often undiagnosed or untreated, many times because patients are poorly informed about the disorder. As many of us are painfully aware, this is especially true for underrepresented communities, who bear the brunt of the disease.  

Black individuals are twice as likely to have PAD and up to four times more likely to undergo an amputation than white individuals. Hispanics also face worse outcomes, including higher amputation rates. Yet among Black and Hispanic adults, nearly 80% report never having a doctor or healthcare provider discuss PAD with them. These disparities are unacceptable and must be addressed.  

That's why SCAI, as a founding member of the PAD Pulse Alliance—a partnership with the Association of Black Cardiologists, the Society of Interventional Radiology, and the Society for Vascular Surgery—is leading the way. We want to raise awareness about PAD's risk factors and potential symptoms and facilitate communication to catch this disease earlier.  

In addition to a patient-focused media outreach campaign, we developed PADPulse.org, an online resource offering a wealth of information and tools for you and your patients. Throughout the month, we will be sharing patient testimonials to highlight your successes in getting the best patient outcomes.   

How can you get involved? 

You can visit PADPulse.org to access our interactive patient toolkit, which provides helpful tips and resources to educate patients at every stage of a patient’s PAD journey, from screening to diagnosis and treatment.

I encourage you to share this information with your friends, family, and community.  

You can also join the conversation on social media by following the hashtag #PulseonPAD, to increase visibility about your own experiences. Finally, you can support policies that improve PAD patients' access and quality of care. 

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans who are living with or at risk of PAD. We can help them avoid the devastating consequences of this disease and improve their health and well-being. We can also reduce the health disparities and inequities affecting underrepresented communities and ensure everyone can receive the best care possible. We can Get a Pulse on PAD and save lives, limbs, and livelihoods. 

Sincerely,

James B. Hermiller, MD, MSCAI 
2024-25 SCAI President