Multimodal Supervised Exercise Significantly Improves Walking Performances Without Changing Hemodynamic Parameters in Patients With Symptomatic Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease

Abstract

We evaluated the outcome of multimodal supervised exercise training (SET) on walking performances and different hemodynamic parameters (ankle/toe-brachial index [ABI/TBI], and transcutaneous oxygen pressure [TcPO₂]) in patients with symptomatic lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). Whether hemodynamic parameters predict walking performances at baseline and following SET was also investigated. Fontaine stage II PAD’s patients following a 3-month SET were retrospectively included. Hemodynamic parameters and walking performances (pain-free [PFWD], maximal [MWD], and 6-minute [6MWD] walking distance) were measured in each patient. Eighty-five symptomatic PAD patients were included. Following SET, PFWD, MWD, and 6MWD significantly increased (+142%, +94%, +14%; respectively; P ≤ .001). Toe-brachial index significantly increased (MD: 0.04 ± 0.01; P = .02), whereas ABI and TcPO₂ did not change significantly. At baseline, patients with higher TBI and TcPO₂ performed significantly better (PFWD: β = 0.25, P = .01 for TBI; PFWD: β = 0.30, P = .005, and MWD: β = 0.22, P = .04, for TcPO₂). No significant relationship was observed at baseline between ABI and walking performances. Baseline values of hemodynamic parameters did not significantly correlate with changes in walking performances. Multimodal SET significantly improves walking performances. Following SET, no significant changes in ABI and TcPO₂ were observed. Toe-brachial index values significantly improved after SET. However, this increase was very modest and its clinical relevance remains questionable. Although baseline TBI and supine TcPO₂ values predict baseline walking performances, no association was found between baseline hemodynamic parameters and changes in walking performances following SET.