Arterial dysfunction and functional performance in patients with peripheral artery disease: a review

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Functional performance is crucial for quality of life and prognosis in peripheral artery disease (PAD).
• Current understanding of PAD-related functional impairment pathophysiology is incomplete.
• Ankle-brachial index (ABI), a measure of atherosclerotic burden, does not reliably predict functional limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the association between arterial function measures (stiffness, endothelial dysfunction) and functional performance in PAD.
• To explore potential therapies targeting arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction for functional improvement in PAD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies examining arterial function and exercise performance in PAD.
• Analysis of insights into PAD pathophysiology, exercise mechanisms, and therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

• Measures of arterial stiffness and endothelial function are associated with exercise performance in PAD.
• These associations offer new insights into PAD pathophysiology and effective treatment mechanisms.
• Aerobic exercise, statins, and ACE inhibitors may improve functional performance by targeting arterial stiffness and endothelial function.

Conclusions:

• Arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction play significant roles in functional impairment in PAD.
• Therapeutic strategies focusing on improving arterial health show promise for enhancing functional performance in PAD patients.
• Further research is necessary to validate these therapeutic approaches.