V.O2 Kinetics and clinical factors among patients with peripheral artery disease

To investigate the association between oxygen uptake (V.O2) kinetics and demographic, behavioral, and clinical factors among patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

A total of 85 PAD patients with intermittent claudication performed a constant load treadmill test, and breath-by-breath (V.e.)O2 was obtained to assess V.O2 kinetics. Demographic information, anthropometry, cardiovascular risk factors, and comorbid conditions were recorded.

Using univariate analyses, higher values of tau ([τ], i.e., slowed V.O2 kinetics) were associated with female gender, non-Caucasian race, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and age ≤66 years. Smoking, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, height, and ankle brachial index were not significantly related to V.O2 kinetics. Using multiple regression procedures, the identified predictors of slowed V.O2 kinetics were female gender (4.76 [95% CI: 1.49-8.03] seconds; P = .0049), non-Caucasian race (4.70 [95% CI: 1.29-8.12] seconds; P = .0075), hypertension (12.06 [95% CI: 8.83-15.28] seconds; P < .0001), and age ≤66 years (4.97 [95% CI: 1.95-7.99] seconds; P = .0015).

In PAD patients, slowed V.O2 kinetics are associated with demographic and clinical factors. The clinical significance is that female, non-Caucasian, and hypertensive PAD patients present central and/or peripheral limitations that may partially account for their walking impairment.