The Patient-Centered Approach to Claudication: A Guide for Vascular Specialists

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.

This book reviews the current literature and clinical practices related to a patient-centered approach to claudication, from the anatomy, physiology and epidemiology related to IC to diagnosis, risk factors and management techniques, including pharmacology, exercise therapy, and open and endovascular revascularization. There are sections dedicated to outcome disparities, the psychological impact of IC, patient preference science and cost effectiveness. There is also a patient-facing brochure and educational poster that can be accessed and downloaded freely. The content is geared toward a range of providers, from practicing vascular specialists and primary care providers to those in vascular training programs. Future directions for treatment and research, as well as an assessment of unmet needs, round out the presentation.

William P. Robinson III, MD, FACS, DFSVS, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA.

Jessica P. Simons, MD, MPH, DFSVS, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.