Lessons from the REACH Registry in Europe

Among patients with atherothrombosis, including coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), patients with PAD generally have the worse prognosis. The Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) Registry characterized the atherothrombotic risk factor profile, and evaluated treatment intensity and cardiovascular events among different atherothrombotic patient populations worldwide. Two thirds of PAD patients had polyvascular disease, defined as symptomatic involvement of more than one vascular bed. The risk factor profile in patients with CAD, CVD and PAD was very much similar. However, optimal risk factor control by medical treatment and lifestyle interventions was least accomplished in PAD patients. Furthermore, PAD patients and patients with polyvascular disease showed the highest cardiovascular event rates. Of note, therapeutic strategies are similar for all atherothrombotic disease categories, irrespective of the presence of polyvascular disease. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to achieve optimal risk factor control, particularly for PAD patients and for those with polyvascular disease, in order to prevent future cardiovascular events.