Farmer disease that can cause loss of limbs is more common than we thought

A shocking new study has revealed that a condition that can lead to serious complications (such as amputation of limbs) is much more frequent and deadly than it was believed before.

Interountain Health researchers have found that this non -diagnosed and undervalued disease affects more than 10 million Americans over 40, with an impressive 50%mortality rate. ​

It is called the peripheral artery disease (PAD): A circulatory disorder in which the arteries that supply blood to the limbs are narrowed or blocked by the accumulation of the plate, resulting in a small blood flow.

This can cause symptoms like cold feet, ramps and ulcers of the legs. Although “the classic symptom of the pad is the pain in the legs with physical activity, such as walking, which improves after rest”, the CDC states that “up to four out of ten people with PAD have no pain in their legs.”

The PAD involves pain, wounds and, in the most severe cases, the loss of the limbs.

There is no care for peripheral artery disease, but lifestyle changes – as a walking or quitting – and medication can reduce symptoms and slow down its progress.

Although peripheral artery disease can be passed to anyone, it is more common in North -Americans over 65.

“In our study, we have found a high non -treatment rate of peripheral artery disease along with higher mortality levels in these patients,” said the main author Viet T. Le, DMSC, an associate professor of cardiovascular research in Interouuntain Health.

“From our findings, we think that health systems can do a better job in the screening of patients for peripheral arterial diseases and to treat them.

The researchers analyzed the data of 7,522 patients, 62% of whom were men and 38% of whom were women, who had a symptomatic diagnosis of the peripheral disease of the artery.

Only 29.6 percent of women and 33.5 percent of men received proper attention.

Women were less likely to suffer a heart attack or limb amputation, but both men and women were 50% at risk of dying.

“All people in these groups should have received at least antiplaqueta and statin therapy.

It was noted that this may be due to the difficulty of identifying and treating the pad versus other types of heart disease, rather than indifference.

However, his findings shine about the need to take this silent killer seriously.

“We can certainly do a better screening work for peripheral arterial diseases and treat it as their own condition,” said Le.

“We should not see a 50% mortality rate between these patients. With the development and implementation of better screening of diseases and treatment control, we can increase the proper treatment for these patients and lower death rates.”

The findings were presented on March 30 at the Annual Scientific Sessions Conference of the American College of Cardiology in Chicago.