Global PAD Association and Biomedix Partner to Improve Access to PAD Testing

Early diagnosis can be the key to preventing serious complications and improving outcomes for patients with a disease more prevalent and deadlier than most cancers. Unfortunately, for individuals with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), achieving timely and accurate diagnosis has been a significant challenge. However, a new initiative is set to change the landscape of PAD testing, offering hope to patients and healthcare providers alike.

Introducing PADtest.org: A Powerful Collaboration

PADtest.org was created through a partnership between Biomedix, the developer of PAD test, PADnet, and the Global PAD Association (GPAD), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals affected by PAD. This joint initiative recognizes the importance of healthcare gatekeepers on the frontlines with patients in catching PAD in its early stages. PADtest.org aims to shine a spotlight on Primary Care Physicians and Podiatrists who offer in-clinic testing for PAD, with the ultimate goal of enhancing early diagnosis and reducing amputations. PADtest.org provides an easy-to-use, interactive map for patients to quickly and easily discover a PCP or Podiatrist near them who offers PAD testing in-clinic.

The Critical Importance of Early Diagnosis

The urgency of early PAD diagnosis cannot be overstated. Left untreated, PAD can lead to severe complications such as heart attack, stroke, and amputation. Timely diagnosis not only allows for the prompt initiation of conservative treatments, including medication and vital lifestyle modifications such as tobacco cessation, dietary changes, and exercise, but also provides the opportunity to proactively stall or slow the progression of this debilitating condition. Ultimately, early intervention can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals living with PAD and potentially prevent the devastating consequences associated with its advancement.

Addressing Misdiagnosis: A Vital Need

Shockingly, a recent poll of near 500 PAD patients that was conducted by the Global PAD Association revealed that over 70% of PAD patients were misdiagnosed by their primary care physicians upon their first complaints of classic PAD symptoms such as leg pain, claudication, and neuropathy. Patients over 40 reported that their symptoms were misdiagnosed as other conditions, including back/sciatica, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, arthritis, or simply attributed to old age. Similarly, younger patients with high risk factors say they were told they are too young to have PAD, with symptoms being dismissed as dehydration, nutrient deficiencies, or a pulled muscle. Yet a study published April 14, 2024 in Science Direct shows an increase in patients between 18-40 presenting with advanced stage PAD, known as Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) between 2016 and 2020. One contributing factor to this rise is an increase in adolescent diabetes. This alarming statistic underscores the pressing need for improved awareness and access to accurate PAD testing.

Empowering Patients and Healthcare Providers

PADtest.org has been developed in direct response to the prevalent issue of misdiagnosis among individuals in the early stages of PAD, as well as the growing population of diabetic patients who are at increased risk of PAD. The platform aims to connect these individuals with Primary Care Physicians and podiatrists who possess a heightened awareness of PAD and can promptly conduct essential testing. Many diabetes patients are already seeing podiatrists for footcare and seeing one with a heightened awareness of PAD will increase the likelihood of an earlier diagnosis. This is particularly critical for patients who require referrals from primary care physicians to see specialists and those who face challenges with transportation to medical appointments. By offering in-clinic PAD testing, it lessens the time between presenting with symptoms, getting tested, and getting a referral to a specialist. Additionally, it also minimizes the burden of multiple trips to the clinic and the need for extended time off work, thereby significantly alleviating the logistical and financial strain associated with seeking necessary medical care.

“Patients tell me all the time that their primary care physician doesn’t know much about PAD and wish they had a doctor who not only would’ve gotten them diagnosed sooner, but also understood their journey with PAD better,” explains GPAD founder and CEO Kym McNicholas. “We hope that PADtest.org inspires more primary care physicians and podiatrists to join this initiative to democratize access to PAD testing so we can improve the prognosis for so many patients across the country,”

“At Biomedix, we are excited to partner with GPAD on this exciting initiative,” said John Romans, CEO of Biomedix, “the early identification of chronic conditions such as PAD are one of the most impactful things that can be done to improve patient outcomes. Identifying a chronic condition early in the progression of the disease enables a wider variety of lower-cost and lower-risk interventions to manage the condition, also enabling a wider range of outcomes that can improve patient quality of life. Finally, knowing that 86 cents of every dollar of healthcare spent in the United States is due to caring for advanced chronic conditions, we believe early PAD identification can have a huge influence on reducing US healthcare costs.”

Looking to the Future

This collaboration between the Global PAD Association and Biomedix marks a significant milestone in the effort to increase PAD diagnosis in early stages. By providing patients with access to reliable testing and equipping healthcare providers with the tools to accurately diagnose PAD, PADtest.org is poised to usher in a new era of early intervention and improved outcomes for individuals at risk of or affected by PAD. It truly represents a beacon of hope for PAD patients across the U.S.

PADtest.org welcomes additional testing sites. If you are a primary care physician or podiatrist that offers PAD testing in-clinic or are interested in doing so, go to Biomedix.com or email [email protected]. If you offer free testing for PAD at events, send us the location, date, and logo to include on the website. Let’s save life and limb together.

WATCH THE HEART OF INNOVATION WHERE BIOMEDIX CEO JOHN ROMANS TALKS TO COHOSTS KYM MCNICHOLAS AND DR. ABOUT THE NEED FOR TESTING PATIENTS FOR PAD SOONEST.