AB031. 223. Poor patient awareness of peripheral arterial disease

Background: Patient knowledge of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is poor, even among those with symptomatic disease. To date there has been no national awareness campaign, like those in place in other jurisdictions.

Methods: Patients with PAD attending the vascular clinic were invited to complete a validated questionnaire assessing familiarity with peripheral arterial disease. A total of 50 patients were recruited over a 4-week period in October and November 2018. Institutional ethical approval was obtained to distribute the questionnaire.

Results: A total of 50 patients completed the questionnaire. The average age was 66 years. There was a male preponderance (female: 18, male: 32); 48 patients (96%) were either current or ex-smokers. Women were statistically more likely to have attained third level education (P=0.001). Despite their attendance at a vascular clinic 24 patients (48%) responded that they were not familiar with PAD; 72% stated that increased BMI was associated with PVD. Most accepted that cigarette smoking was associated with PAD, though 12% responded that they didn’t know; 60% thought alcohol contributed a lot or a moderate amount to PAD; 60% stated there was a correlation between PAD and myocardial infarction/cerebral vascular accident.

Conclusions: These results highlight room for improvement in patient awareness of PAD and the risk factors that can predispose to its development. A national patient awareness campaign is prudent, particularly given that 1 in 10 patients stated that they didn’t know smoking was associated with PAD. Targeting this, and other modifiable disease factors could impact on the development and severity of PAD.

Keywords: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD); intermittent claudication; patient awareness