PAD Registry and Fitbit Sub-Study Program

Overview

The genetic contribution and influence on the progression of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and possible cardiovascular events remains relatively unknown. As a result, the investigators are proposing for the creation of a registry of patients in the University of Pennsylvania Health System who are known to have PAD. The patients in this registry will be systematically monitored by conducting lower extremity ultrasound exams, ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurements, and six minute walk tests which have strong value in the positive diagnoses of PAD. These exams, combined with follow-up quality of life questionnaires, would allow for thorough monitoring of new diagnoses, symptoms, or serious adverse events. Blood will also be drawn looking for genetic biomarkers associated with this disease, which will provide further knowledge on the advancement and potential cardiovascular events associated with this disease. This blood will also be analyzed for components that will provide the investigators with knowledge of the patients overall blood vessel health. Micro RNA will also be evaluated to try to test if proteins and RNA in the blood can be used as predictors for future strokes or heart attacks. These exams will be repeated once annually over a duration of 10 years, with patients having hemodynamic monitoring as well as quality-of-life and cardiovascular events recorded at each visit. The data obtained from this registry will be compared to a created genetic profile looking for any genetic contribution to these new developments. Furthermore, this knowledge should offer impetus for physicians to target patients with these risk factors for the identification of potential adjustments to care.

500 subjects will be recruited from the general Philadelphia community and from the University of Pennsylvania Healthcare System. This population will be carefully characterized with assessment for cardiovascular risk factors to include smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and previous surgery or vascular interventions. Those patients with the presence of diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia will be considered positive if they are being prescribed drugs for each respective condition. Physician's clinics will be screened for patients who meet the necessary inclusion criteria. These physicians will then be contacted for permission to speak with the patient. Upon approval, a coordinator will contact the patient regarding the study and to gauge interest. If interested, the coordinator will go through a screening form with the patient, as well as schedule a baseline visit. Subjects will also be recruited from Upenn research database comprised of subjects who have participated in previous research studies and who have asked to be contacted for future studies, such as CVI BioBank, Genetics of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Phenotypes (IRB #808346). Potential subjects will also be recruited via Penn Data Store. Patients who cannot be contacted directly will be contacted through the mail. For their baseline visit, patients will be asked to read and sign the consent form, as well as approached for participation in the CVI BioBank, Genetics of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Phenotypes (IRB# 808346). Additionally, patients will be given the option of participating in the activity monitoring sub-study. Patients will then asked to undergo an ABI measurement using standardized methods - brachial and ankle systolic pressures will be measured with appropriately sized cuffs attached to sphygmomanometers. Return of flow will be determined using a continuous wave Doppler. In addition, patients will undergo a lower extremity duplex ultrasound evaluation of their arterial system, with plaque being used as a measure of disease progression. The evaluation will be done in coordination with the Inter-societal Commission for Accreditation of Vascular Laboratory Guidelines. In each follow-up exam, PAD progression will be defined as either a new stenosis or progression of a baseline stenosis to an occlusion. Furthermore, patients will undergo a 6-MWD test, with the primary unit of analysis being the total distance walked (in meters) regardless of whether the subjects stopped or not during the conduct of the test. Patients will also have 10 mLs of blood drawn, which will be evaluated for any genetic and vascular biomarkers that may have contributed to the disease (see Section 3.0 for Analysis and Evaluation). Micro RNA will also be evaluated for any predictors of future strokes or heart attacks. Study visits will be completed once annually over duration of 10 years, with questionnaires being repeated every 6 months via telephone. These questionnaires, the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) and RAND-Item short Form Survey, will be completed and will ask the patients about any interval changes in medical history, any severe adverse events that may have occurred, and their overall quality of life. Patients enrolled in the optional activity monitoring sub study will be randomized to one of two groups: intervention group or control group. Intervention group participants will receive an activity monitor device (Fitbit http://www.fitbit.com/) and instructed on its use. Additionally, coordinators will monitor the intervention groups usage of the device and make routine recommendations on their activity level using the Way To Health platform. Way to Health is an integrated research platform that uses online tools, wireless technologies, and other applications to allow investigators to test ways of improving health behaviors and helping people keep on track to better health. Patients in the intervention group will also receive financial incentives for wearing the Fitbit and also be entered into a lottery if they are reaching their goals. Patient's will be increased by the Way To Health program according to the algorithm described below: * \<5000 steps: 50% increase on goal * 5,001 - 7,500 steps: 40% increase on goal * 7,501 - 10,000 steps: 30% increase on goal -\>10,000 steps: 20% increase on goal Participants in the control group will receive an activity monitoring device that they will not be able to engage with but instructed to wear for monitoring purposes once a week every month. Each subject will perform the same procedures used on patients not enrolled in the sub-study. However, patients will be asked to return to our office for a 3 month follow-up visit for a repeat 6 minute walk test and Walking Impairment Questionairre (WIQ). The data recorded on the activity monitor device will be uploaded by the subjects for view via sync through proprietary software on a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The data will be password protected and will allow access to the investigator and the subjects randomized to the intervention group to have access.