[Intermittent claudication]

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Intermittent claudication is a key symptom of peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
• International guidelines strongly recommend supervised exercise therapy (SET) alongside cardiovascular risk management for patients.
• The Netherlands has successfully implemented a systemic rehabilitation program, ClaudicatioNet, incorporating SET with positive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status of supervised exercise therapy (SET) for intermittent claudication.
• To highlight the successful implementation of SET in the Netherlands.
• To identify the lack of SET integration in Denmark despite established guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of international guidelines on intermittent claudication management.
• Analysis of the ClaudicatioNet program in the Netherlands.
• Comparative assessment of SET adoption in Denmark versus international recommendations.

Main Results:

• Supervised exercise therapy (SET) is a cornerstone treatment for intermittent claudication according to major guidelines.
• The ClaudicatioNet program in the Netherlands demonstrates the feasibility and positive outcomes of systemic SET integration.
• Denmark has not yet incorporated SET into its standard care for intermittent claudication patients.

Conclusions:

• Supervised exercise therapy (SET) is a vital, evidence-based treatment for intermittent claudication.
• The Dutch ClaudicatioNet model offers a successful framework for implementing SET.
• There is a critical need for Denmark to adopt SET for intermittent claudication to align with international standards and improve patient care.