INTRODUCTION
Epidemiologic projections suggest that 16% of the European and North American population aged 55 years and older has peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Of the 27 million people with PAD, an estimated 10.5 million are symptomatic, while 16.5 million are asymptomatic. Like patients who have symptoms of PAD, patients who are asymptomatic are at increased risk of atherothrombotic events including stroke, myocardial infarction, internal carotid artery stenosis, and impaired lower-extremity functioning.

Cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and PAD are now clearly thought to be all part of a much larger systemic and interrelated pathologic process known as atherothrombosis, which manifests in atherothrombotic and ischemic events throughout the vasculature.

Multiple diagnostic tests, procedures, and therapies are available to treat atherothrombotic disease and accompanying risk factors. Using all available and appropriate diagnostics and therapies to identify and treat every patient is important because of death due to coexisting cardiovascular disease. Recent guidelines, clinical trials, and reviews of available literature warrant further review and may affect how PAD and atherothrombotic disease are managed.

The course provides a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and is certified only for physicians (MD, DO, or equivalent). All other participants receive a certificate of completion. (This free CME activity is based on a live Web conference taped on April 25, 2007. Persons who participated in the live Web conference are NOT eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit for completing this enduring material.)

William R. Hiatt, MD, FACP President Colorado Prevention Center Chief, Section of Vacular Medicine Professor of Medicine University of Colorado Denver, Colorado