4 M Pinoys at risk of PAD

According to the 2004 National Nutrition and Health Survey, there are almost four million Filipinos who are suffering from diabetes.

These people are constantly in danger of succumbing to the disease’s complications such as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).

PAD, whose primary risk factor is diabetes, is a problem with blood flow in the arteries. The disease causes the arteries that normally supply blood to the muscle to get narrow or blocked so that less blood can flow through the artery.

Patients with PAD face a six to seven-fold increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

PAD is considered to be a silent epidemic because its symptoms are often mistaken to be a sign of arthritis or some other medical illness, particularly arthritis.

Moreover, most patients who are affected by the disease do not feel any symptoms or are asymptomatic.

To help combat this silent disease, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals has launched the Improve Peripheral Arterial Disease Awareness Club (i-PAD), a project which aims to help doctors diagnose PAD among diabetic patients.

It also aims to disseminate information about PAD among people who are at risk of the disease.

Under i-PAD is the Bantay Paa project, whose primary goal is to determine the prevalence of PAD among diabetic patients through ABI (ankle brachial index) screening and monofilament testing.

ABI screening is a patient-friendly, inexpensive technique that compares blood pressures between the patient’s arms and ankles.

The ABI test is a useful tool as it not only provides clinicians with a means of identification of PAD, but also with information regarding the severity of PAD that can assist in guiding a treatment approach.

Once diagnosed, patients will be given Pletaal (cilostazol) samples, an antiplatelet drug which is also used to treat PAD.

Studies have shown that diabetic and non-diabetic patients with PAD respond favorably to cilostazol. Patients are also given free patient footcare guide and other relevant materials.

PAD may be a silent disease but patients need not suffer in silence. Through the i-PAD awareness campaign, doctors will have a partner in diagnosing the disease.

Once properly diagnosed, patients can be armed with the proper treatment to avoid suffering from more serious complications.

For more inquiries about PAD and the i-PAD Awareness campaign, call the PAD Connect Hotline at 811-i-PAD for Metro Manila (811-4-723) or 1-800-811-i-PAD for provincial area (1-800-4-723).