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Supervised exercise training for intermittent claudication: lasting benefit at three years
D A Ratliff1, M Puttick, G Libertiny
1Vascular Unit, Department of Surgery, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust, Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5BD, UK. david.ratliff@ngh.nhs.uk
Objectives:
To assess the long-term outcome of supervised exercise training for intermittent claudication.
Methods:
A prospective study was undertaken of all patients referred to a single centre with intermittent claudication (>46 m). Patients underwent supervised exercise training twice weekly for 10 weeks, with regular follow-up to 3 years. Actual Claudication Distance (ACD), Maximum Walking Distance (MWD) and ankle-brachial pressure indices (ABPI) were measured.
Results:
In 202 patients the initial median ACD and MWD were 112 m and 197 m. Following exercise therapy both the median ACD and MWD increased to 266 m and 477 m at three months, increases of 237% and 242% respectively (p<0.001). At three years the median ACD and MWD were 250 m and 372 m, increases of 223% and 188% respectively (p<0.001). There was no significant change in ACD or MWD at 3 months compared to 1, 2 or 3 years. ABPI remained unchanged throughout.
Conclusions:
Supervised exercise training has long term benefit in patients with intermittent claudication. Results seen at 12 weeks are sustained at three years.
