New Study of Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD),
 Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Shows a
         Startling Lack of Awareness About an Important Indicator for
                           Heart Attack and Stroke

    NEW YORK and PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The results of a
new national program published today in JAMA has shown that almost 30 percent
of the patients had peripheral arterial disease or PAD, and more than half
didn't know it. Patients with PAD are known to be six times more likely to die
from cardiovascular disease within 10 years than patients without PAD.
    PARTNERS  (PAD Awareness Risk and Treatment: New Resources for Survival),
one of the largest programs ever conducted on PAD in the primary care setting
assessed awareness of PAD among consumers and healthcare professionals across
the United States.  Nearly 7,000 at-risk patients from 25 cities across the
United States and 350 primary care practices were evaluated.  "At risk"
patients were defined as anyone 70 years of age and older or those between 50
and 69 years of age with a history of smoking and/or diabetes.
    According to Dr. William Hiatt, Executive Director Colorado Prevention
Center and Dr. Michael Criqui, Director, University of San Diego Department of
Family and Preventive Medicine, key investigators for the PARTNERS program,
the results from PARTNERS confirm the need to raise awareness and draw
attention to the seriousness of PAD and for us to take steps to increase the
intensity of treatment for patients at risk.  Through increased awareness,
diagnosis and early treatment, costly, debilitating and potentially fatal
events such as heart attack and stroke may be prevented.
    PAD is caused by a condition in which the arteries to the legs become
narrowed due to the formation of plaque inside the walls of these blood
vessels, similar to the blockages that can affect the blood supply to the
heart or brain.  Left untreated, the plaque can rupture, leading to
platelet-induced thrombosis or blood clot formation, a process known as
atherothrombosis.  Atherothrombosis can lead to serious health consequences
including heart attack and stroke.  It has also been recognized that PAD is in
many cases a marker of more extensive vascular disease that may effect the
heart and brain.  This may contribute to the increased risk of heart attack
and stroke in people with PAD.
    Symptoms of PAD may include fatigue, cramps or pain in the muscles of the
calves or thighs that occurs during walking and is relieved by rest. However,
this symptom "claudication," is not a reliable indicator of the presence of
PAD because more than two-thirds of those with PAD have no symptoms at all.
The ankle-brachial index (ABI) can help provide early detection of PAD.  It is
a simple non-invasive procedure, that can be performed in a physician's
office, comparing the systolic blood pressure in the legs and arms.
    "PARTNERS helped give us a starting point to truly impact the awareness
and diagnosis of the disease," said Dr. Alan Hirsch, Director, Vascular
Medicine Program at the University of Minnesota Medical School and primary
author on the study. "Once diagnosed, there are many actions that can be taken
by patients to reduce their risk for complications.  Working with their
healthcare professional, patients can modify their diet and exercise program,
quit smoking, control blood pressure and blood sugar levels and use
medications to help prevent the formation of blood clots in their
circulation."

    The PARTNERS study was supported by the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi
Pharmaceuticals Partnership.

     Contacts:

     Leslie Hare
     (212) 551-4007

     Julie Keenan
     (609) 252-3732

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