New P.A.D. Guidelines Lower Recommended Age for ABI Screening

admin - October 10, 2011

On October 3, the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American Heart Association (AHA) released updated guidelines intended to better manage peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

One of the more significant recommendations includes lowering the age at which ABI screenings for peripheral arterial disease should be performed as an effective strategy for diagnosing more at-risk people. Previously at 70 years of age and older, the new recommendation is now 65 years of age and older.

The reason for the new recommendations is explained by the ACCF/AHA in their October 3 press release, printed by Forbes, in which they talk about peripheral artery disease as an underdiagnosed disease that is one of the most common causes of preventable heart attack, stroke, leg amputations and death. The new guide, then, is intended to help the medical community on decision-making related to PAD and improve patient outcomes.

This press release can be downloaded and read in full detail at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryhusten/2011/10/03/guidelines-for-peripheral-artery-disease-updated/

Life Line Screening Response to the ACCF/AHA’s ABI Screening Recommendation

While the recommendations now have been lowered to 65, Life Line Screening still recommends regularly checking beginning at age 50, based on the prevalence of the disease, the ease and accuracy of screening, and the fact that the risk of stroke begin to double every decade after age 55. 

Our position stems from our position as the largest vascular screening company in the world. It provides us with a unique vantage point on the utility of screening, and our data confirms our belief that screening should begin at this earlier age. We applaud the new guidelines and commend the committee for lowering the age, but recommend that our customers begin a decade earlier when the disease can be caught at more  modest stages.

Important Note for Diabetes Patients from the American Diabetes Association

According to the American Diabetes Association, “Due to the high estimated prevalence of PAD in patients with diabetes, a screening ABI should be performed in patients greater than 50 years of age who have diabetes.” This recommendation can be found in the ADA’s Clinical Diabetes journals at: http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/22/4/181.full.

As advocates for your well-being and quality of life, we want to make sure you have all the facts and recognize the importance of staying proactive about your healthcare.

Meanwhile, if you would like view the ACCF and AHA guidelines, they are available on the P.A.D. Coalition website at: http://www.padcoalition.org/resources/guidelines.php, and will be published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on November 1, 2011.

Do you have a personal Life Line Screening story to share? Join Life Line Screening on Facebook to share your story and help spread the word about preventive screenings and the power of prevention.

Comments

1. Keith Missinne - October 28, 2012 at 8:34 am

   Before I received information on the services offered by LifeLine, I had never concidered any testing other that what my Dr. requested, based upon my insurance coverage. I had been wheelchair bound with lower back stenosis and didn’t ambulate using my legs. I had included the Ankle-Brachial Index. Something he never suggested. Thankfully I did as it showed that I had extensive blockages. He and I read the results together and I made arrangements for further investigating, with a vascular surgeon and concluded that I needed an Aorterobifemoral by-pass. This could have slipped by for much longer because I had no complant or pain. We usually took care of my present condition, and new complants. Dr.’s are reluctant to order some tests for routine check-ups. Making these tests available and affordable made me able to help improve in my care. I thank lifeLine for at least bringing more awareness to look for those zebra’s in my physical health.

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