Peripheral arterial disease in men

"Peripheral Arterial Disease in Men" provides an in-depth exploration of PAD, focusing on its prevalence, risk factors, clinical features, and treatment. This five-unit course offers a comprehensive framework for healthcare professionals to manage PAD effectively.

Unit 1: Definitions, Epidemiology, and Risk Factors
This unit introduces the global and regional burden of PAD, emphasising its growing prevalence and impact:
- Definitions and Scope: Differentiating between peripheral arterial and artery diseases, with a focus on lower extremity artery disease (LEAD).
- Epidemiology: Prevalence rates across age, gender, and ethnic groups, highlighting the influence of socioeconomic factors.
- Risk Factors: Smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, and systemic inflammation.
- Clinical Relevance: The under-diagnosis of PAD and its correlation with increased cardiovascular events.

Unit 2: Pathophysiology
Delves into the complex mechanisms underlying PAD:
- Atherosclerosis and Atherothrombosis: Vascular changes leading to ischemia.
- Associated Conditions: Links between LEAD, carotid artery disease, and renal artery disease.
- Clinical Manifestations: Spectrum ranging from asymptomatic cases to severe complications like ulceration and gangrene.

Unit 3: Screening, Classification, and Clinical Features
This unit focuses on identifying and categorising PAD:
- Screening Tools: Use of ankle-brachial index (ABI), the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire, and vascular examinations.
- Classification Systems: Fontaine, Rutherford, and Wound-Ischemia-Foot Infection (WIfI) classifications to assess severity and guide management.
- Clinical Features: Differences in symptom presentation between men and women, including intermittent claudication and chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).
- Differential Diagnoses: Distinguishing PAD from spinal stenosis, venous claudication, and diabetic neuropathy.

Unit 4: Investigation and Evaluation
Explores diagnostic tools and their applications:
- Imaging Modalities: Duplex ultrasound, CT angiography (CTA), MR angiography (MRA), and conventional angiography.
- Diagnostic Accuracy: Comparing sensitivity, specificity, and clinical utility of each imaging technique.
- Laboratory Testing: Importance of renal function assessment and other biomarkers in evaluating PAD.

Unit 5: Management
Provides a multimodal approach to PAD treatment:
- Lifestyle Modifications: Smoking cessation, heart-healthy diets, and supervised exercise therapy.
- Pharmacotherapy: Use of antiplatelet agents, statins, and cilostazol for symptom relief and cardiovascular risk reduction.
- Interventional Options: Endovascular and surgical procedures for refractory cases.
- Amputation and Postoperative Care: Management of severe CLTI cases and strategies to minimise risk.

This course combines evidence-based practices, case discussions, and clinical applications to prepare participants for the challenges of managing PAD in male patients. By addressing the nuances of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, participants will be equipped to improve outcomes and reduce the burden of this prevalent disease.