In the UK alone, 3,000 amputations take place every year as a result of peripheral artery disease.

80% of foot amputations
due to diabetes are preventable²

Every preventable amputation is a tragedy, not just for the patient but the loved ones around them. At Abbott, we are proud to lead the AmpuNATION initiative to raise awareness of the signs of PAD to reduce the number of amputations.

Thousands of people across Europe are living with the devastating impact of amputation, many of which are preventable. Causes of preventable amputations include peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition that affects up to 50 million people in Europe.¹

Diabetes is another significant cause of amputations, even though 80% of foot amputations due to diabetes are preventable.²

Amputations can be devastating to people and their loved ones, both physically and emotionally. A third of all limb amputees live with clinically significant depression.³ PAD does not affect society equally, with women experiencing a faster decline in quality of life than men and black patients facing a 37% higher risk of amputation than white patients.⁴

The scale of the problem globally offers a stark reminder of the need for action. In 2019, the number of people globally aged 40 years and older with PAD was 113 million.⁶ By 2030, one in ten Europeans will have diabetes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).⁷

Despite the urgency, the level of public awareness is very low. Large studies have shown poor levels of knowledge of PAD in the Netherlands (20% aware), Canada (36% aware), the United States (26% aware) and Ireland (18% aware) in the general population, and affected patient populations alike.⁴

We must act now to prevent more people experiencing preventable amputations.

Solutions include clear and consistent pathways for patients with conditions including Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia (CLTI), the severe form of PAD. In countries like the UK, there are no clear pathways and significant inconsistencies in outcomes.

We also need to improve access to new innovations that can reduce the rates of amputations for patients with conditions like CLTI.

1/10 Europeans will be living with diabetes by 2030⁷