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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Pasquale Cancelliere, General Medicine, Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, 10515 Carnegie Ave, Cleveland, OH 44118, 216-231-3300, pcancelliere@ocpm.edu

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) affecting the lower extremities is a very common problem in the Western Hemisphere and is generally considered a disease of the elderly population, especially of those over 65. About 12% of the US population is 65 years or older, and this figure will likely increase to over 22% by the year 2040. Therefore, the impact of vascular disease affecting these individuals will be significant both from a quality of life and public health standpoint. Also, with an ever- increasing incidence of type II diabetes, PAD is becoming more prevalent and common, even in the younger population. The challenge to the medical community is to develop a cost-effective strategy for the early detection and management of PAD and more importantly a more effective strategy of prevention and the elimination of risk factors. The harmful effects of cigarette smoking have been abundantly documented, and the link between smoking and PAD is evident. The use of tobacco is the most prevalent risk factor, not only for development of PAD, but also of death. Cigarette smoking is certainly the most prevalent and preventable complicating factor involved in lower limb ischemia and disease, contributing to increased incidence of amputations and higher rates of early death. Many studies have demonstrated the dramatic improvement of health after smoking cessation. The illegalization of cigarettes would not only save billions in financial public health resources, but also decrease cardiovascular morbidity dramatically and save thousands of lives each year.

Learning Objectives:

• prevention of preventable risk factors as they relate to improvement of lower limb disease and overall health.
• curbing health care costs and resources by eliminating the cause of one of the top preventable causes of morbidity and mortality.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No