Abstract 11123: Effects of Home-Based Ischemic Leg Symptom-Inducing Exercise on Simultaneous Improvement in Treadmill Walking Distance and Patient Reported Outcomes and in Peripheral Artery Disease: The LITE Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Introduction: An optimal exercise intervention for individuals with peripheral artery disease (PAD) should improve both objective measures of walking and patient reported outcomes (PROs). This study evaluated whether home-based walking exercise conducted at a pace that induced ischemic leg symptoms (high intensity) improved both treadmill walking distance and related PROs more often than walking exercise conducted at a pace that did not induce ischemic leg symptoms (low intensity) and a non-exercise control group (control), respectively. Methods: Post-hoc analysis of PAD patients who participated in the 12-month LITE Trial and were assessed at 12 months follow-up. The LITE Trial randomized people with PAD into home-based high intensity exercise, low intensity exercise, or control. Objective measures of walking were pain-free treadmill walking distance (PFWD) and maximal treadmill walking distance (MWD). PROs related to physical functioning consisted of Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) physical function score. Participants were categorized into one of four groups at 12-month follow-up: 1) improved both treadmill outcome and PRO, 2) improved treadmill outcome but not PRO, 3) improved PRO but not treadmill outcome; and 4) improved neither treadmill outcome or PRO. Improvement was defined as follow-up score minus baseline &gt0. Results: Of the 305 people with PAD randomized, 186 (61% Black, 46% female) had data for both treadmill testing and at least one PRO available at baseline and 12-month follow-up (age, sex, race). Participants randomized to high intensity exercise were significantly more likely to improve both MWD and WIQ distance and speed (Table), as well as both PFWD and WIQ speed, compared to the other groups. Conclusions: To improve both treadmill outcomes and PROs, patients with PAD should be encouraged to walk for exercise at a pace inducing ischemic leg symptoms, and not at a pace without ischemic leg symptoms.