[Vascular rehabilitation for patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease]

Compared to patients with coronary heart disease, patients with PAD have a poorer attitude towards general practitioners with regard to the frequency of prescribing rehabilitative measures and controlling risk factors. The patients themselves do not perceive the increased cardiovascular risk and thus the need for lifestyle changes and compliance to the same extent as patients with coronary heart disease.The "Rehabilitation clinic with vascular expertise" certificate defines the criteria for fulfilling the specific structural and process requirements for vascular medicine.Due to the paradigm shift and the increasing importance of conservative therapy for patients with intermittent claudication, vascular rehabilitation can be the start of or support for the implementation of conservative therapy and thus ensure long-term patient compliance with regard to the implementation of drug therapy, lifestyle changes and the sustainability of gait training. For hospitalized patients, vascular rehabilitation closes the gap to more sustainable aftercare.Increasing demand will promote the development of vascular medical rehabilitation and increase awareness on the part of payers. This process is being scientifically monitored.The goal should be a care structure for patients with PAD that is regulated on an outpatient basis as part of a separate or adapted DMP program, that includes the quality standards of the "Interdisciplinary Vascular Centers" on an inpatient basis and that includes vascular medical rehabilitation with subordinate vascular sports groups.From the point of view of rehabilitation, the aim is for vascular rehabilitation to be recognized as an independent specialist area by the payers.