Exercise and lower extremity revascularization benefit peripheral artery disease; finds study

Data analysis revealed the following facts.

• Combination therapy was superior to ET alone in improving walking performance at 6-12 (B Grade), 12-18 (B Grade), and >18 (C Grade) months and at deferring claudication onset at 6 -12 (C Grade) and 12-18 (B Grade) months.
• The combination therapy compared with LER alone was superior at improving walking speed at less than 6 (B) and 6 to 12 (C grade) months and was better at deferring claudication onset at less than 6 months (C grade).

Key highlights from the results are as follows-

• In the management of symptomatic peripheral artery disease, aerobic exercise therapy and lower extremity revascularization are the mainstays of therapy.

• In this structured review, the most effective therapies, with 6 to 18 months of follow-up, indicated that exercise therapy and lower extremity revascularization each independently improve peak walking performance.

• The combination of therapies was superior to either therapy alone and may decrease the need for subsequent revascularization.

• Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term durability of these interventions, their impacts on subsequent invasive procedures, and predictors of response.

For full article follow the link: Biswas MP, Capell WH, McDermott MM, et al. Exercise Training and Revascularization in the Management of Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol Basic Trans Science. 2021;6(2):174-188. doi:10.1016/j.jacbts.2020.08.012

Primary source: Journal of American College of Cardiology: Basic to Translational Science.