Clinical Review

Improving Functional Outcomes in Patients with Intermittent Claudication


 

References

Conclusion

Intermittent claudication, the main symptom of mild-to-moderate PAD, is common in older adults. Individuals with intermittent claudication have reduced walking endurance and slower walking speed compared to individuals without PAD, and impairments in walking can reduce patients’ quality of life. There are several therapeutic options for improving walking performance in intermittent claudication, none of which are without limitations. Lower-limb revascularization procedures (angioplasty, bypass surgery) are invasive and have limited durability, and the medications approved for claudication-related functional impairment have limited efficacy. Supervised walking exercise can substantially improve walking performance; however, most patients do not participate in a supervised program due to issues of availability, awareness and access. Therefore, efforts should be made to provide patients with access to a supervised exercise program and encouragement to attend, or to promote self-managed walking when supervised exercise is not available or practical.

Corresponding author: Dr Garry A. Tew, York Trials Unit, Dept. of Health Sciences, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK, garry.tew@york.ac.uk.

Financial disclosures: None.

Author contributions: conception and design, GAT, PA; drafting of article, GAT, PA; critical revision of the article, GAT, PA.

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