Life-style counseling program and supervised exercise improves walking distance and quality of life in patients with intermittent claudication

ABSTRACT

Introduction: There are many barriers for patients with intermittent claudication (IC) to complete and maintain the supervised exercise therapy (SET) programs. SET combined with life-style counseling was, therefore, investigated. Objective: This study aimed to report the experience of a single center where SET and life-style counseling targeting the modification of risk factors to treat IC, improved walking distance and quality of life. Methods: Thirty-five patients out of 62 referred patients with IC completed the full program of 12 weeks SET and 12 weeks self-training combined with counseling focusing in modifying the risk factors. The pain free walking distance (PFWD) and maximum walking distance (MWD) were measured as primary outcomes. Vascular Quality of Life Questionnaire 6 (VascuQoL-6) and 6-min walk test (6-MWT) were measured as secondary outcomes. Analysis of variance and last value carried forward method was used to compare the outcomes. Results: Fifteen females and 20 males with mean age of 71.5 years completed the program. PFWD and MWD increased by 116% (P < .001) and 120% (P < .001), respectively, at 24 weeks follow-up. Similarly, there was 14% increase in 6-MWT and VascuQoL-6 overall score increased from 13.1 to 15.9 at 24 week follow-up (P < .001). Conclusion: SET along with life-style counseling can be considered as a package in the treatment of patients with IC.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise therapy
• life-style counseling
• atherosclerosis
• walking distance

Declaration of Interests

The authors report no conflicts of interest.