Managing peripheral arterial disease in primary care

In the UK, around 5% of people aged 55-74 years have intermittent leg pain on walking (claudication), a characteristic feature of peripheral arterial disease. The fact that their disease is symptomatic puts such individuals at high risk of experiencing serious cardiovascular complications. Yet many of them do not receive adequate secondary prevention advice and therapy. Here, we review the management of peripheral arterial disease in primary care, concentrating on those with clinically overt disease.