Abstract 14128: Walking Exercise for Peripheral Artery Disease: Effects in Women and Black Americans

Abstract

Introduction: In people with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD), rates of participation in supervised exercise therapy are lower in women and Black Americans, compared to men and White Americans, respectively. This study used data from randomized clinical trials in participants with PAD to assess whether walking exercise improved walking performance in women and Black Americans. Methods: Data were combined from three randomized clinical trials that compared supervised treadmill exercise (3 sessions/week) for six months to a non-exercise control group. Data were also combined from two randomized clinical trials that compared home-based walking exercise for six months to a non-exercise control group. The six-minute walk (6MW), treadmill walking performance, and the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) were measured at baseline and six-month follow-up. In meta-analyses, the effects of supervised and home-based exercise were each compared to a non-exercise control group. The effects of supervised and home-based exercise were compared directly. Tests for interaction were used to compare effects of exercise in Black, compared to White participants and in women, compared to men. Results: A total of 370 participants (n=159 [43%] women, n=228 [62%] Black) completed a supervised exercise trial; 349 participants (n=175 [50%] women, n=187 [54%] Black) completed a home-based exercise trial. Supervised and home-based exercise significantly improved 6MW in Black Americans and women (Table). Compared to home-based exercise, supervised exercise was associated with greater improvements in treadmill outcomes, while home-based walking improved 6MW more than supervised exercise. There was no significant interaction of sex or race on exercise outcomes. Conclusions: Supervised and home-based exercise significantly improved 6MW and treadmill walking distance in women and Black Americans with PAD, respectively, compared to a non-exercise control.