[Multidistrict atherosclerotic disease: epidemiological and clinical framework]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Vascular Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Atherosclerosis is a systemic arterial disease with significant cardiovascular implications.
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a primary focus, but involvement of other arterial beds is increasingly recognized.
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) traditionally refers to lower limb disease but is redefined here to include all non-coronary, non-aortic arterial atherosclerosis.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes updated epidemiological data on PAD prevalence and its prognostic impact.
• It focuses on diagnostic strategies and pharmacological management of PAD.
• Surgical and interventional treatments are explicitly excluded from this review's scope.

Key Points:

• PAD significantly increases the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, particularly in patients with existing CAD.
• Understanding PAD prevalence and its association with CAD is crucial for comprehensive patient risk assessment.
• Appropriate diagnostic frameworks and evidence-based pharmacological therapies are essential for managing PAD.

Conclusions:

• PAD, encompassing non-coronary and non-aortic atherosclerosis, is a critical component of systemic atherosclerotic disease.
• Recognizing the prevalence and prognostic significance of PAD in CAD patients is vital for clinical practice.
• This review provides a framework for diagnosis and medical management, emphasizing the link between PAD and overall cardiovascular risk.