The Patient-Centered Approach to Claudication

In a publication in the Lancet by the Global Burden of Disease Collaborators, peripheral artery disease (PAD) was noted to be a major public health concern due to its “high and rising prevalence.” Intermittent claudication (IC) is the most common symptomatic manifestation of PAD, causing significant disability and reductions in health-related quality of life. While, at the global level, there is concern for gross under-treatment of PAD, here in the US, there has been growing concern for over-treatment of IC. It is clear that IC is a topic that warrants a dedicated, thorough, evidence-based resource that can help vascular specialists gain a comprehensive understanding of IC and how to best approach and engage patients in their care.