Jornal de Prática Geral

Management of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Artery Disease in the General Practice

Abstract

George Galyfos

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) has been associated with specific risk factors such as smoking, diabetes mellitus (DM) as well as previous coronary and cerebrovascular disease [1]. The prevalence of DM for all age groups worldwide was estimated to be 2.8% (171 million) in 2000, a figure that was predicted to double over the subsequent two decades [2]. Moreover, approximately 20% to 30% of patients with diabetes also have PAD. Diabetic patients are at high risk for PAD characterized by symptoms of intermittent claudication (IC) or critical limb ischaemia. Furthermore, the presence of PAD identifies those at increased risk of ulceration, failure to heal an ulcer, and amputation [3]. Finally, patients with IC and DM have more risk cardiovascular factors, cardiovascular conditions, disability and worse haemodynamic status and quality of life than claudicant patients without diabetes [4]. Therefore, proper diagnostic and therapeutic management of such patients in the general practice is a crucial matter in order to decrease morbidity and improve quality of life.