Sex-based difference in functional performance and quality of life 1 year after supervised exercise training in...

The long-term effects of supervised exercise training (SET) on functional performance and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) are poorly investigated, especially in women. This study investigated these outcomes 1 year after SET in both women and men.

In this single-arm, prospective, nonrandomized study, patients with symptomatic PAD participating in the 3-month SET program were investigated. Functional performance (6-minute walking distance [6MWD], the stair-climbing test [SCT], and the short physical performance battery [SPPB]), and HRQoL (physical component summary [PCS] score of the Short Form-36 questionnaire) were assessed before and following SET, as well as at 6 and 12 months after SET completion.

Ninety patients (women: n = 30; men: n = 60) with chronic symptomatic PAD (ankle-brachial index 0.78 ± 0.22; mean age 65.4 ± 10.2 years) were included in the study. The 6MWD (women: before: 387.2 ± 88.6 m; after: 472.4 ± 57.0 m; 12 months: 469.9 ± 57.8 m; men: before: 431.7 ± 94.0 m; after: 477.5 ± 88.6 m; 12 months: 467.2 ± 73.4 m), SPPB score (women: before: 9.6 ± 2.4; after: 11.3 ± 1.0; 12 months: 11.2 ± 0.5; men: before: 10.6 ± 1.4; after: 11.5 ± 0.9; 12 months: 11.3 ± 0.8), and SCT (women: before: 8.6 ± 4.4 s; after: 5.6 ± 1.6 s; 12 months: 5.8 ± 1.2 s; men: before: 6.2 ± 2.3 s; after: 5.0 ± 1.9 s; 12 months: 5.3 ± 1.6 s) significantly improved over time (p ≤ 0.001), with no significant differences between women and men. The PCS score (women: before: 30.3 ± 8.0; after: 38.8 ± 8.4; 12 months: 35.7 ± 7.4; men: before: 32.4 ± 10.5; after: 35.7 ± 9.5; 12 months: 35.4 ± 7.6) significantly improved in women only (p = 0.020).

One year after SET, both women and men with PAD exhibit similar functional benefits, whereas HRQoL improvements were observed exclusively in women.