TY - JOUR

T1 - Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Increases Walking Distance in Patients With Intermittent Claudication. Results of the CIPIC Rehab Study

T2 - A Randomised Controlled Trial

AU - Siercke, Maj

AU - Jørgensen, Lise P.

AU - Missel, Malene

AU - Thygesen, Lau C.

AU - Møller, Sanne P.

AU - Sillesen, Henrik

AU - Berg, Selina K.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Objective: To examine whether a cardiac rehabilitation programme in a community based setting for patients with intermittent claudication (IC) affects walking ability, quality of life, and changes in health behaviour. The trial investigated a cross sector cardiovascular rehabilitation programme compared with usual care for patients having non-operative management. Methods: The trial allocated 118 patients, with 1:1 individual randomisation to either an intervention or control group. Data were collected at a department of vascular surgery and at a healthcare centre in Denmark. The rehabilitation intervention consisted of usual care plus 12 weeks of exercise training, pedometer, health education, and text messages. The primary outcome was maximum walking distance at six months measured by treadmill walking test. The secondary outcomes were maximum walking distance at 12 months and pain free walking distance measured by treadmill walking test, healthy diet, level of physical activity, and quality of life (QoL) at six and 12 months. Results: In the intervention group, 46 participants were analysed, with 47 in the control group. Following three months of rehabilitation, a 37% difference (95% CI 1.10 – 1.70; p =.005) was found between groups in maximum walking distance at six and 12 months, in favour of the intervention group. The same positive effect was found in physical activity, QoL, and healthy diet, but was not statistically significant in pain free walking distance and smoking. Conclusion: A specialised community based cardiac rehabilitation programme for patients with IC showed statistically and clinically significant effects on maximum walking distance, physical activity, quality of life, and healthy diet, but not on pain free walking distance and smoking, compared with usual care without rehabilitation.

AB - Objective: To examine whether a cardiac rehabilitation programme in a community based setting for patients with intermittent claudication (IC) affects walking ability, quality of life, and changes in health behaviour. The trial investigated a cross sector cardiovascular rehabilitation programme compared with usual care for patients having non-operative management. Methods: The trial allocated 118 patients, with 1:1 individual randomisation to either an intervention or control group. Data were collected at a department of vascular surgery and at a healthcare centre in Denmark. The rehabilitation intervention consisted of usual care plus 12 weeks of exercise training, pedometer, health education, and text messages. The primary outcome was maximum walking distance at six months measured by treadmill walking test. The secondary outcomes were maximum walking distance at 12 months and pain free walking distance measured by treadmill walking test, healthy diet, level of physical activity, and quality of life (QoL) at six and 12 months. Results: In the intervention group, 46 participants were analysed, with 47 in the control group. Following three months of rehabilitation, a 37% difference (95% CI 1.10 – 1.70; p =.005) was found between groups in maximum walking distance at six and 12 months, in favour of the intervention group. The same positive effect was found in physical activity, QoL, and healthy diet, but was not statistically significant in pain free walking distance and smoking. Conclusion: A specialised community based cardiac rehabilitation programme for patients with IC showed statistically and clinically significant effects on maximum walking distance, physical activity, quality of life, and healthy diet, but not on pain free walking distance and smoking, compared with usual care without rehabilitation.

KW - Cardiovascular rehabilitation

KW - Intermittent claudication

KW - Pedometer

KW - Quality of life

KW - Randomised controlled trial

KW - Walking distance

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejvs.2021.04.004

DO - 10.1016/j.ejvs.2021.04.004

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34092489

AN - SCOPUS:85107404765

VL - 62

SP - 768

EP - 776

JO - European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery

JF - European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery

SN - 1078-5884

IS - 5

ER -