PAD Awareness Study

Gaps In Awareness of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Hong Kong: A Cross Sectional Study

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases in developed countries [1] and is an emerging problem in developing countries [2, 3]. The prevalence of PAD in European population studies ranged from 3.6 to 9.2 % and 10-20 % in those aged over 70 years [4]. In a recent meta-analysis, the prevalence of PAD in China increased gradually by age until mid-60s, after which the increase accelerated. In the early stages, PAD is mostly silent. With the progression of disease, it may manifest as intermittent claudication, pain at rest, non-healing ulcer and gangrene resulting in lower-extremity amputation [5]. PAD is a major cause of disability, loss of employment, and lifestyle changes, and is a marker for systemic atherosclerotic diseases. Patients with symptomatic PAD have at least a 30% risk of death within 5 years rising to almost 50% within 10 years, resulting primarily from myocardial infarction or stroke [4]. Despite the major health risks associated with PAD, it is generally not recognized by clinicians or the general public in comparison with other cardiovascular diseases. However, asymptomatic individuals also have higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events similar to those with symptomatic PAD [6]. Many studies have shown that public awareness of PAD is much lower than that of other diseases. It has been reported that awareness of PAD ranged from 20 to 36 %, whereas awareness of other common diseases was more than 60 % in the same population [6-9]. Awareness is important for patients and physicians, and the need for public awareness programs has been highlighted [10, 11]. There is paucity of published literature on public awareness of PAD in Asian countries. It is difficult to reduce the morbidity and mortality of untreated PAD without adequate public awareness of PAD and its risk factors and consequences [7]. Insights into public awareness of PAD will help in developing strategies for behavioral change communication and health promotion. In this study we aimed to assess awareness of PAD among adults in Hong Kong. The survey is designed to measure knowledge of factors that increase the risk for PAD and the clinical risk consequences of having PAD. These data will provide useful information to guide future local public cardiovascular educational efforts.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Peripheral Arterial Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: No intervention

Detailed Description

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases in developed countries [1] and is an emerging problem in developing countries [2, 3]. The prevalence of PAD in European population studies ranged from 3.6 to 9.2 % and 10-20 % in those aged over 70 years [4]. In a recent meta-analysis, the prevalence of PAD in China increased gradually by age until mid-60s, after which the increase accelerated. In males, the prevalence of PAD ranged from 2.81% (95% CI = 1.77-4.43) in those aged 25-29 years to 21.95% (95% CI = 15.39-30.31) in those 95-99 years old. In females, the PAD prevalence increased from 3.84% (95% CI = 2.44-5.98) in those aged 25-29 years to 27.95% (95% CI = 20.14-37.37) in those aged 95-99 years (3). Between 2000 and 2020, the total number of Chinese people with PAD is expected to increase by 40% from 29.44 million in 2000 to 41.13 million in 2020.

In the early stages, PAD is mostly silent. With the progression of disease, it may manifest as intermittent claudication, pain at rest, non

-healing ulcer and gangrene resulting in lower-extremity amputation [5]. PAD is a major cause of disability, loss of employment, and lifestyle changes, and is a marker for systemic atherosclerotic diseases. Patients with symptomatic PAD have at least a 30% risk of death within 5 years rising to almost 50% within 10 years, resulting primarily from myocardial infarction or stroke [4]. Despite the major health risks associated with PAD, it is generally not recognized by clinicians or the general public in comparison with other cardiovascular diseases. Most individuals with lower extremity PAD are asymptomatic and do not experience recognizable ischemic symptoms until late in the disease progression. However, asymptomatic individuals also have higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events similar to those with symptomatic PAD [6]. Low awareness makes addressing the public health impact of PAD challenging [7]. Many studies have shown that public awareness of PAD is much lower than that of other diseases. It has been reported that awareness of PAD ranged from 20 to 36 %, whereas awareness of other common diseases was more than 60 % in the same population [6-9]. Awareness is important for patients and physicians, and the need for public awareness programs has been highlighted [10, 11]. There is paucity of published literature on public awareness of PAD in Asian countries. It is difficult to reduce the morbidity and mortality of untreated PAD without adequate public awareness of PAD and its risk factors and consequences [7]. Insights into public awareness of PAD will help in developing strategies for behavioral change communication and health promotion. In this study we aimed to assess awareness of PAD among adults in Hong Kong. The survey is designed to measure knowledge of factors that increase the risk for PAD and the clinical risk consequences of having PAD. These data will provide useful information to guide future local public cardiovascular educational efforts.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 1000

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Hong Kong
  • New Territories
    • Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
      • Prince of Wales Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

A sample size of 1000 is associated with a margin of error of less than 4.5% and a confidence level of 95%. The study population is weighted by age (into three 20-year categories: 40 to 59, 60 to 79 and ≥80 years of age) and on gender to reflect Hong Kong census estimates for 2016.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 40 or above
• Patients who attend outpatient clinics at the Prince of Wales Hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

• Vulnerable subjects that are illiterate and have severe hearing impairment.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Other
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Participants' awareness of PAD	Awareness of PAD among adults in Hong Kong will be measured by questionnaire	7 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 21, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 28, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): August 28, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 23, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 20, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): September 23, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 23, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 20, 2022
• Last Verified: September 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: peripheral arterial disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Arteriosclerosis; Arterial Occlusive Diseases; Atherosclerosis; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Peripheral Vascular Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2019.571

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No