Men’s Health: Rather Than Amputate Limbs, This Black Diabetes Doctor Helps Save Them
August 24, 2020
I knew I wanted to become a doctor at age five, motivated by seeing the devastating effects of disease in my family. My grandmother died of diabetes at the young age of 64. Both my parents are diabetic, and thankfully, due to my increased vigilance and preventive measures, they haven’t developed adverse complications you see,… more
Your Valley: HonorHealth seeks to save more limbs from peripheral arterial disease consequences
August 21, 2020
A team of Scottsdale physicians and health professionals are working to curb the rate of amputations due to low-blood flow — a common, and deadly, disease impacting millions of people yearly. Peripheral artery disease is a circulatory condition in which narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to the limbs. Those at risk include people with… more
Radiology Business: Quash ‘reckless’ Medicare cuts that could cost radiology billions, lawmakers urge Congress
August 12, 2020
A bipartisan group of U.S. House members are asking congressional leaders to quash a Medicare payment change that could cost radiology billions in the years to come. Spearheaded by Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., the 92 lawmakers want Congress to waive budget-neutrality requirements stemming from a proposed pay increase for office-based evaluation and management services in… more
CardioVascular Coalition Commends Congressman Bobby Rush for Leading Effort of 93 Bipartisan Lawmakers to Block Medicare Specialty Cuts
August 11, 2020
Lawmakers call for policies to waive budget neutrality requirements in E/M codes and block planned specialty provider cuts before January 2021 WASHINGTON – The CardioVascular Coalition (CVC) – a consortium of physicians, care providers, advocates, and manufacturers working to improve awareness and prevention of peripheral artery disease (PAD) – today commended Congressman Bobby Rush (IL-1)… more
Insider: There’s an epidemic of Black Americans losing their legs and feet to diabetes. A doctor in Mississippi knows how to end it.
August 7, 2020
Linda Amos had to get one of her ten toes cut off last year, but it could’ve been much worse if she’d never met Dr. Foluso Fakorede. Amos and Fakorede live in the Mississippi Delta, America’s diabetes capital. Living in the area, which has the lowest number of doctors per capita in the US, and even fewer cardiologists (like Fakorede),… more
CardioVascular Coalition Warns Deep Cuts to Specialty Services in Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Will Restrict Patient Access to Limb-Saving Interventions
August 6, 2020
Congressional action needed to waive budget neutrality requirements in E/M codes and block planned specialty provider cuts before January 2021 WASHINGTON – The CardioVascular Coalition (CVC) – a consortium of physicians, care providers, advocates, and manufacturers working to improve awareness and prevention of peripheral artery disease (PAD) – today expressed disappointment in the Centers for… more
PAD Task Force Welcomes Society of Interventional Radiology
July 7, 2020
PAD Task Force urges lawmakers to join Congressional PAD Caucus to advance policies to improve access to screening for at-risk populations and reduce preventable amputations WASHINGTON – Members of the Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Task Force – including the Association of Black Cardiologists, CardioVascular Coalition, Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and… more
AJMC: Why Amputations Are on the Rise in Some States, Even as Diabetes Care Improves
July 5, 2020
The last decade has brought great strides in diabetes care. Better insulins and better technology can allow people with diabetes—both type 1 and type 2—to keep their blood sugar from rising and falling in ways that cause long-term damage to their eyesight and vascular systems. New classes of drugs for patients with type 2 diabetes… more
Healio: Chronic stress after new, worsening PAD diagnosis predicts long-term mortality
June 29, 2020
Among patients with new or worsening peripheral artery disease, chronic stress was independently associated with elevated risk for all-cause mortality in the subsequent 4 years, researchers reported. Self-reported chronic stress at 1 year was common in this population, occurring in nearly 20% of patients, the researchers wrote. “This is the first time that we have… more
ProPublica Reporting Underscores Need for Improved PAD Screening for African Americans
May 28, 2020
CVC working collaboratively with bipartisan lawmakers to advance policies to improve access to screening for at-risk populations and reduce preventable amputations WASHINGTON – The CardioVascular Coalition – a coalition of stakeholders and advocates created to improve awareness, prevention, and intervention of vascular disease including peripheral artery disease (PAD) – today stressed the importance of policies… more
MedPage Today: COVID Could Cost Life and Limb — Literally
May 21, 2020
Amid the escalating volume of patients with COVID-19 in hospitals, doctors recently noticed something puzzling: the typical volume of patients with symptoms of heart attack, stroke, appendicitis, and other emergent or urgent health problems were no longer seeking care as frequently. As much as we wish that Americans are no longer suffering from these serious conditions,… more
Clarion Ledger: Amputations are soaring in the Delta among Black diabetics. One doctor is trying to end it
May 20, 2020
It was a Friday evening in the hospital after a particularly grueling week when Dr. Foluso Fakorede, the only cardiologist in Bolivar County, Mississippi, walked into Room 336. Henry Dotstry lay on a cot, his gray curls puffed on a pillow. Fakorede smelled the circumstances — a rancid whiff, like dead mice. He asked a… more
NBC News: Doctor on mission to stop preventable amputations in diabetic black Americans
May 20, 2020
Research shows amputations happen more frequently among black patients with diabetes in the rural Southeast, often three-to-four times the national average. Dr. Foluso Fakorede says patients are often unaware of other treatment options before undergoing surgery. Click here to see the original story on the NBC News website.
Mississippi Today: The black American amputation epidemic: Black patients losing limbs at triple the rate of others
May 19, 2020
IT WAS A FRIDAY EVENING in the hospital after a particularly grueling week when Dr. Foluso Fakorede, the only cardiologist in Bolivar County, Mississippi, walked into Room 336. Henry Dotstry lay on a cot, his gray curls puffed on a pillow. Fakorede smelled the circumstances — a rancid whiff, like dead mice. He asked a nurse… more
ProPublica: The Black American Amputation Epidemic
May 19, 2020
IT WAS A FRIDAY EVENING in the hospital after a particularly grueling week when Dr. Foluso Fakorede, the only cardiologist in Bolivar County, Mississippi, walked into Room 336. Henry Dotstry lay on a cot, his gray curls puffed on a pillow. Fakorede smelled the circumstances — a rancid whiff, like dead mice. He asked a nurse… more
National Kidney Month: Vascular Care Community Stresses PAD Risks in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
March 12, 2020
Minority populations with CKD are at a much higher risk than the general population of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD) WASHINGTON – The Cardiovascular Coalition (CVC), a coalition of cardiovascular and endovascular care providers, physicians and manufacturers created to improve awareness, prevention, and intervention of vascular disease, urges increased awareness for kidney health and better… more
Atlanta Journal Constitution: Study: Patients with PAD could find relief by sipping cocoa beverages
February 18, 2020
A new study suggests that patients who have peripheral artery disease could see an increase in fitness if they consistently consumed cocoa beverages. The preliminary study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation Research shows that cocoa drinks, which are rich in flavanol, consumed three times daily for six months could improve the walking performance for… more
CardioVascular Coalition Commends Congress for Inclusion of Peripheral Artery Disease Language in End-of-Year Appropriations Package
December 20, 2019
WASHINGTON – The CardioVascular Coalition (CVC), a consortium of physicians, care providers, advocates, and manufacturers working to improve awareness and prevention of peripheral artery disease (PAD), today commended lawmakers in Congress for including language specific to peripheral artery disease education and awareness in Congress’ year-end legislative package. The appropriations language encourages the Centers and Disease… more
AJMC: Understanding Diabetes Risks Can Save Your Limbs
December 4, 2019
Diabetes is a well-known term; however, it’s safe to bet most people don’t fully understand the disease, its risks, and its serious health implications. In recognition of American Diabetes Month, it is important to acknowledge the various health risks associated with diabetes, including peripheral artery disease (PAD), which can lead to devastating health outcomes. Across… more
CardioVascular Coalition Releases New White Paper on Value of Peripheral Artery Disease Screening Among At-Risk Populations
December 3, 2019
CVC urges USPSTF to update PAD screening recommendations to include at-risk populations to prevent amputation, reduce healthcare costs, and eliminate racial disparities WASHINGTON – The CardioVascular Coalition (CVC), a consortium of physicians, care providers, advocates, and manufacturers working to improve awareness and prevention of peripheral artery disease (PAD), released a new white paper urging the… more
Leg Pain Could Spell Peripheral Artery Disease for Some
November 29, 2019
Leg pain while walking or doing other activities could be a sign of peripheral artery disease, an expert says. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) develops silently, narrowing blood vessels until a shortfall in the supply of nutrients and oxygen causes cramps and leg pain, explained Dr. Faisal Aziz, chief of vascular surgery at Penn State Health… more
CVC Stresses Importance of Understanding Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Risks During American Diabetes Month
November 5, 2019
Because diabetes is a primary risk factor for PAD, patient education and screening of at-risk populations is critical to reducing lower limb amputations WASHINGTON – In recognition of American Diabetes Month, which starts on November 1, the Cardiovascular Coalition (CVC), a consortium of physicians, care providers, advocates, and manufacturers working to improve awareness and prevention of… more
Fierce Healthcare: Too many minorities are experiencing unnecessary leg amputations
October 31, 2019
Across the U.S., the drug overdose epidemic took the lives of more than 70,000 Americans last year and remains a highly visible killer. Meanwhile, infectious diseases such as measles, which was declared eradicated from the U.S. in 2000, are on the rise again—reaching a 27-year high in 2019. These epidemics rightly receive a lot of attention from policymakers and the media, but there’s another… more
CardioVascular Coalition Commends Lawmakers Leadership in Launching Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Caucus during September Awareness Month
September 3, 2019
Vascular care leaders stress importance of PAD education and intervention to reduce limb loss in America by asking lawmakers to join Congressional PAD Caucus WASHINGTON – Today marks the start of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month and this September the CardioVascular Coalition (CVC), a leading group of providers, physicians, and manufacturers, commends lawmakers Donald M…. more
Health Essentials: Exercising With Peripheral Artery Disease
August 21, 2019
If you have peripheral artery disease (PAD), you know all about the pain that can come from just a short walk. PAD occurs when plaque builds up inside your arteries. Over time, plaque hardens and results in severely restricted blood flow within your legs, causing pain when you walk. But numerous studies have shown that a form… more
Mass Device: Study shows few amputations following treatment with Cardiovascular Systems’ PAD system
August 19, 2019
A study of peripheral vascular interventions in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) has demonstrated “high freedom” from major amputation at three years, according to study sponsor Cardiovascular Systems. The Liberty 360° study enrolled more than 1,200 patients at 51 sites across the U.S. It followed patients across the spectrum of symptomatic PAD, and included 100… more
Renal & Urology News: AKI On the Rise With Endovascular Therapy for Critical Limb Ischemia
August 19, 2019
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasing in incidence among patients undergoing endovascular therapy for critical limb ischemia (CLI), with chronic kidney disease and heart failure the strongest risk factors for AKI, investigators concluded. An analysis of data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database showed that the AKI rate of patients undergoing endovascular therapy for… more
McKnight’s: Invasive limb procedures can be avoided in people with poor blood flow and related ulcers
August 13, 2019
Accurate noninvasive limb perfusion assessment is vital for prompt diagnosis and prevention of unnecessary invasive procedures for patients with inadequate blood flow and related ulcers. That’s according to a recent American Heart Association scientific statement. Thorough evaluation of limb perfusion includes the ankle-brachial index, toe-brachial index and other perfusion technologies. Telemedicine technology also may provide… more
New Haven Register: Could achy legs be sign of peripheral artery disease?
August 12, 2019
Peripheral artery disease affected between eight and 12 million people in the United States. While the majority of people with the disease don’t even know they have it, they have the same five-year mortality rate as people with breast and colorectal cancer. Click here to see the full article on the New Haven Register website.
Science Daily: Evaluating blood flow is key to early diagnosis and treatment for people with critical limb ischemia
August 12, 2019
Non-invasive techniques and devices for assessing blood flow and other diagnostic considerations for people with critical limb ischemia are addressed in a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published in the Association’s flagship journal Circulation. The statement provides perspective on the strengths and limitations of current imaging techniques, including the ankle-brachial index, toe brachial… more
Healio: AHA: ‘Thorough evaluation of limb perfusion’ critical in CLI
August 12, 2019
The American Heart Association released a scientific statement outlining the options for perfusion assessment in patients with critical limb ischemia. “A thorough evaluation of limb perfusion is important in the diagnosis of CLI because it can not only enable timely diagnosis, but also reduce unnecessary invasive procedures in patients with adequate blood flow or among… more
Healio: Statin use promotes limb salvage, survival after PAD procedures
August 11, 2019
Among patients with peripheral artery disease who underwent a surgical or endovascular intervention, statin use after the procedure was associated with better odds of survival and limb salvage, researchers reported. “Statin use independently and significantly improved overall survival and limb salvage in patients with PAD after intervention,” Gaurav M. Parmar, MD, MPH, from the division of vascular… more
UPI: Smoking can affect leg arteries for decades after people quit
August 6, 2019
Cigarette smokers have a sharply higher risk of peripheral artery disease, or PAD — and even if they quit, that added risk can last for decades, a new study warns. PAD narrows arteries in the leg, leading to reduced blood flow that causes pain, poor wound healing and other symptoms. Click here to see the… more
Health Day: Smoking Creates Long-Lasting Risk for Clogged Leg Arteries
August 5, 2019
Cigarette smokers have a sharply higher risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD) — and even if they quit, that added risk can last for decades, a new study warns. PAD narrows arteries in the leg, leading to reduced blood flow that causes pain, poor wound healing and other symptoms. Click here to see the full… more
Renal & Urology News: CKD Predicts Worse Outcomes in Peripheral Artery Disease
July 29, 2019
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) increases their risk of cardiovascular events, new study findings suggest. In a study of 13,483 patients with symptomatic PAD, patients with CKD had a higher rate of a composite end point of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke than those without CKD… more
Vascular Disease Management: Study Quantifies Smoking’s Strong Link to Peripheral Artery Disease
July 25, 2019
A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that cigarette smoking boosts the risk of peripheral artery disease, and this elevated risk can persist up to 30 years after smoking cessation. The study also found that the link between smoking and peripheral artery disease was even stronger… more
Medscape: In Smokers, Peripheral Artery Disease Risk Climbs Faster Than CHD, Stroke Risks
July 24, 2019
Smoking is well known as a risk factor for clinical vascular disease, notably coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, but its effect on peripheral vascular disease (PAD) may be underappreciated, say researchers based on their look at the community-based ARIC longitudinal study cohort. Click here to see the full article on the Medscape website.
Medical Xpress: Genetic characteristics of peripheral artery disease
July 22, 2019
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)—a narrowing of the arteries serving the legs and feet —affects as many as 12 million Americans and 200 million people worldwide. It is a manifestation of clogged arteries, but until now, scientists lacked information about why some people with the disease presented with problems with their legs, some with their heart… more
MedPage Today: Smoking-Related PAD Risk Lingers Even After Quitting
July 22, 2019
Cigarette smoking is a greater risk factor for peripheral artery disease (PAD) than for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, and that risk persists far longer than for the other atherosclerotic diseases after smoking cessation, researchers reported. Current smokers in the prospective cohort study with a ≥35 pack-year cigarette history had more than double the… more
MedPage Today: Small Vessels Hold Big Clue to PAD Limb Amputation Risk
July 8, 2019
Retinopathy and other microvascular diseases are linked to a substantial risk of adverse limb events in peripheral artery disease (PAD), a study found. The incidence of amputation was 0.23 per 1,000 person-years among people who had neither microvascular disease nor PAD in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study. Click here to see the full article on… more
Morning Call: Troubling trend: diabetes amputations are up after years of decline
July 6, 2019
Frank Houseal knew how dangerous diabetes can be. Both of his parents had it. His mother died at 52 of a heart attack. His father had a stroke at 47 and had lost both legs to amputation by the time he died at 65. Click here to see the full article on the Morning Call… more
The Morning Call: Troubling trend: diabetes amputations are up after years of decline
July 6, 2019
The genetic cards were stacked against Houseal, a big man with a big, outgoing personality. He weighed 120 pounds in first grade. He’d put on another hundred by the time he left high school and then more as the stresses of adult life piled up. As a young, 6-foot-2 man, he felt “invincible.” As an… more
AL.com: People of color are most at risk for amputations. Time to close the gap.
June 3, 2019
By Dr. Ralph Redd | Practicing vascular surgeon at Montgomery Vascular Surgery As an African American doctor in Montgomery, I am dedicated to closing gaps in healthcare by making sure our communities are healthy, happy, and thriving. The yawning gap between health outcomes for whites and health outcomes for people of different racial and ethnic… more
Corsicana Daily Sun: May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month
May 14, 2019
According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of American adults are living with high blood pressure, also called hypertension, yet many are unaware that they have it. In kids and teens, elevated blood pressure is becoming increasingly common, which may lead to health problems later in life. During May’s National High Blood Pressure Education… more
Kaiser Health News: Further Steps To Guard Against ‘Shameful’ Amputations
May 6, 2019
Thank you for drawing much-needed attention to disparities in unnecessary limb amputations for communities of color (“Diabetic Amputations A ‘Shameful Metric’ Of Inadequate Care,” May 1). While I applaud your article’s focus on diabetes, understanding related diseases like peripheral artery disease (PAD) is just as important. As a limb salvage specialist in the Mississippi Delta,… more
District News Report: Assemblymember Gray Commemorates Limb Loss Awareness Month at the State Capitol
April 27, 2019
Earlier this week, I presented ACR 56 on the Assembly Floor, which recognizes the month of April as Limb Loss Awareness Month. The resolution recognizes the more than 2 million individuals in the U.S. living with limb loss, and limb difference. Diabetes, peripheral artery disease and trauma are leading causes of limb loss, and they… more
CNN: Black, Latino patients much more likely than whites to undergo amputations related to diabetes
April 26, 2019
On his regular rounds at the University of Southern California’s Keck Hospital, Dr. David Armstrong lives a brutal injustice of American health care. Each week, dozens of patients with diabetes come to him with deep wounds, severe infections and poor circulation — debilitating complications of a disease that has spiraled out of control. He works… more
CardioVascular Coalition Urges Policymakers to Create Intragovernmental Workgroup on Amputation Reduction to Improve PAD Care for Minority Populations
April 18, 2019
The call for improved access to early detection and diagnostic screenings for peripheral artery disease in underserved areas underscored during National Minority Health Month WASHINGTON – This National Minority Health Month, the Cardiovascular Coalition (CVC), a consortium of physicians, care providers, advocates, and manufacturers working to improve awareness, prevention and treatment of peripheral artery disease… more
The Hill: Congress: Adopt solutions to end minority health disparities
April 18, 2019
As a physician on the frontlines of an overlooked epidemic, I’ve seen countless patients who have had no choice but to have their limbs surgically amputated because they didn’t have access to the clinical interventions that could have saved their legs. No, I don’t work in a developing country. I’m a doctor in the Mississippi… more
Vascular Care Leaders Underscore PAD Risks for Americans Living with Kidney Disease on World Kidney Day
March 14, 2019
Americans with CKD are at a higher risk than the general population of developing PAD WASHINGTON – The CardioVascular Coalition (CVC), a coalition of cardiovascular and endovascular care providers, physicians, and manufacturers created to improve awareness, prevention, and intervention of vascular disease, is urging increased understanding for kidney health and related health conditions, including Peripheral… more