Peripheral Artery Disease: The New Cardiovascular Epidemic

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a condition that results from blockage of arteries in the extremities, affecting between 8 and 12 million Americans and growing. Patients with PAD have 3 times the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, smoking, age and menopause - 25 percent of women between the ages of 55 and 74 may have PAD and the rate is even higher for men. Many PAD sufferers have severe disabilities, with potential need for amputation. This disease is under-diagnosed and undertreated, and a concerted effort is needed to educate the public and physicians, and to accelerate research to develop new treatments.

Speaker: Michael S. Conte, M.D., Professor and Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, UCSF

5:30 PM reception, 6:00 PM Program