Management of cardiovascular risk factors by primary care physicians in patients with peripheral arterial disease

Background: Patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) are now intensively treated by primary care physicians predominantly because of government pressure and remuneration to prescribe anti-platelet and anti-hyperlipidaemic drugs. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) with the identical risk factors appeared to us to be less intensively investigated and treated by primary care physicians. Objective: To review the treatment of risk factors in all patients referred to two vascular clinics with a diagnosis of suspected PAD. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Vascular outpatient clinic in two district general hospitals. Participants: 124 consecutive new patients were studied to determine risk factors and appropriate treatment. Results: Of the 124 patients, 85 (68%) were confirmed to have PAD without evidence of symptomatic CAD. In the PAD alone group, less than 25% received anti-smoking advice (p