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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between physical activity levels and lower urinary tract symptoms in 20,732 Brazilian men., Methods: This cohort study included 20,732 men of ≥40 years of age, who participated in health screening between January 2008 and December 2018. Standardized health data (anthropometric, laboratory, clinical, and lifestyle data) were collected. A logistic regression model was used to examine associations based on the occurrence of lower urinary tract symptoms., Results: Depressive symptoms (p<0.001), age (p<0.001), erectile dysfunction (p<0.001), and total prostate-specific antigens (p<0.001) were associated with higher odds of lower urinary tract symptoms in men, after adjusting the other factors. However, physical activity levels were associated with lower odds of developing lower urinary tract symptoms (low active, p<0.001; active, p=0.002; and high active, p=0.005)., Conclusion: All physical activity levels were associated with lower odds of lower urinary tract symptoms in 20,732 Brazilian men.

Introduction: Depression is the leading cause of mental health-related illnesses and disabilities. Physical activity (PA) has been included as part of therapeutic approaches for patients with depression. This study aimed to investigate the associations between depressive symptoms and PA levels in a large representative cohort of Brazilian adults and older individuals., Methods: Data from 58,445 Brazilian adults (68.6 % males and 31.4 % females) aged 18 years or older (42.2 ± 10 years) who participated in health screening initiatives between 2008 and 2022 at the Center for Preventive Medicine at a quaternary hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil were analyzed. Standardized health data (anthropometric, laboratory, clinical, and behavioral) were collected. A hierarchical regression model was used to examine the associations based on the presence and absence of depressive symptoms., Results: In the final model, age, gender (female), body mass index (BMI) (each kg/m 2 ), presence of hypertension, presence of diabetes mellitus, risk of alcohol consumption, smoking status, and perceived stress were associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms. However, PA levels were associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms., Conclusion: The findings revealed that any level of PA was independently and significantly associated reduced risk of depressive symptoms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: We examined the sedentary behavior and physical activity of 260 patients with peripheral artery disease. Women engaged in more light physical activity than men did. Light physical activity was associated with lower arterial stiffness in men only, while no significant associations were found between sedentary behavior, moderate-vigorous physical activity, and cardiovascular outcomes., Background: ◼ Women with peripheral artery disease exhibited higher blood pressure and arterial stiffness than men., Background: ◼ Low levels of physical activity, particularly moderate to vigorous activity, were observed in individuals with peripheral artery disease., Objective: To analyze the association between the time spent in sedentary behavior and physical activity of different intensities with cardiovascular health in men and women with peripheral artery disease., Methods: Two hundred and sixty patients with peripheral artery disease and claudication symptoms (65.7% men; 66±1 years; ankle brachial index 0.57±0.18) were evaluated. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using an accelerometer. Physical activity was classified into light and moderate-vigorous intensities. The cardiovascular outcomes included blood pressure (oscillometric method), cardiac autonomic modulation (heart rate variability), and arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity)., Results: Women spent more time engaged in light physical activity than men (341±14 min/day versus 306±9 min/day; p=0.040, respectively). There was no significant difference in the time spent on sedentary behavior and moderate-vigorous physical activity. Women had a higher systolic blood pressure (p=0.025), higher augmentation index (p<0.001), and lower sympathovagal balance (p=0.047) than men. Pulse wave velocity was only negatively associated with light physical activity (β= -4.66; 95%CI= -8.57; -0.76) in men. Light and moderate-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior were not associated with other cardiovascular outcomes., Conclusion: Higher levels of light physical activity were associated with lower arterial stiffness in men with peripheral artery disease.

Background: Frailty syndrome is prevalent among many patients experiencing intermittent claudication symptoms. Considering that components of the frailty syndrome can affect both physical and psychological functions, it is likely that barriers to physical activity are heightened in these individuals., Aim: To analyze the association between barriers to physical activity and frailty in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD)., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 216 patients with symptomatic PAD (64.8% men, 65.6±9.4 yrs.). Nine personal and 8 environmental barriers to physical activity were investigated through a questionnaire on barriers to practicing physical activity in patients with intermittent claudication. Frailty was defined according to Fried et al. (2001) criteria which included unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low grip strength, slow walking speed, physical inactivity. Three or more criteria defined frail, one or 2 criteria defined pre-frail, and absence of criteria defined non-frail. Data are presented as median (interquartile range)., Results: Frail and pre-frail patients have more barriers than non-frail patients [frail: 11 (4); pre-frail: 10 (6); non-frail: 8 (7), p = 0.001]. Absence of a companion for physical activity, lack of knowledge and uncertainty about the benefits of physical activity, pain induced by walking and presence of obstacles that worsen leg pain were associated with frail and pre-frail status, independent of sex, age, ankle-brachial index, and total walking distance., Conclusion: Patients with PAD who are frail and pre-frail have more barriers to physical activity than non-frail patients. Therefore, specific interventions promoting PA are essential for these patients to improve their health outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The aims of the current study were to analyze the association between the barriers to and changes in physical activity levels and sedentary behavior, as well as to examine whether these barriers change over time in patients with peripheral artery disease. In this longitudinal study, we assessed 72 patients (68% men; 65.7 ± 9.2 years). Physical activity was measured over a 7-day period using an accelerometer, and data were collected on time spent in sedentary activities, low-light physical activities, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. Personal and environmental barriers to physical activity were collected using yes or no questions. Assessments were repeated in the same patients after 27 months (95% confidence interval [26, 28] months). Most barriers remained stable in these patients; however, those who reported lack of money experienced an increase in sedentary behavior (β = 392.9 [159.7] min/week, p = .02) and a decrease in low-light physical activity (β = -372.4 [140.1] min/week, p = .02). These findings suggest that patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease typically exhibit stable barriers over time, and individuals reporting lack of money demonstrated a decrease in low-light physical activity and an increase in sedentary behavior after 27 months.

Objective: This study examined the impact of submaximal walking training (WT) on local and systemic nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, inflammation, and oxidative stress in patients with intermittent claudication (IC)., Methods: The study employed a randomised, controlled, parallel group design and was performed in a single centre. Thirty-two men with IC were randomly allocated to two groups: WT (n = 16, two sessions/week, 15 cycles of two minutes walking at an intensity corresponding to the heart rate obtained at the pain threshold interspersed by two minutes of upright rest) and control (CO, n = 16, two sessions/week, 30 minutes of stretching). NO bioavailability (blood NO and muscle nitric oxide synthase [eNOS]), redox homeostasis (catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD], lipid peroxidation [LPO] measured in blood and muscle), and inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6], C-reactive protein [CRP], tumour necrosis factor α [TNF-α], intercellular adhesion molecules [ICAM], vascular adhesion molecules [VCAM] measured in blood and muscle) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks., Results: WT statistically significantly increased blood NO, muscle eNOS, blood SOD and CAT, and muscle SOD and abolished the increase in circulating and muscle LPO observed in the CO group. WT decreased blood CRP, ICAM, and VCAM and muscle IL-6 and CRP and eliminated the increase in blood TNF-α and muscle TNF-α, ICAM and VCAM observed in the CO group., Conclusion: WT at an intensity of pain threshold improved NO bioavailability and decreased systemic and local oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with IC. The proposed WT protocol provides physiological adaptations that may contribute to cardiovascular health in these patients., (Copyright © 2021 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Diabetes has been considered a major risk factor for peripheral artery disease (PAD). The effect of diabetes on daily physical activity level and cardiovascular function in PAD patients is poorly known., Objective: To analyze the effect of diabetes on physical activity level, physical function and cardiovascular health parameters in patients with PAD and claudication symptoms., Methods: Cross-sectional study of 267 PAD patients, 146 without and 121 with diabetes. Physical activity levels were objectively measured by using an accelerometer, and time spent in sedentary (0-100 counts/min), light (101-1040 counts/min) and moderate to vigorous (≥1041 counts/min) physical activity was obtained. Physical function assessment included the 6-min walk test, handgrip strength test and short physical performance battery. Cardiovascular health parameters measured were brachial blood pressure, heart rate variability, and arterial stiffness., Results: Diabetic PAD patients spent more time in sedentary behavior (P=0.001, effect size [ES] 0.234) and less time in light (P=0.003, ES=0.206) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (P<0.001, ES=0.258) than non-diabetic PAD patients. Diabetic PAD patients presented lower 6-min walk distance (P=0.005, ES=0.194) and impaired cardiac autonomic modulation (standard deviation of all NN intervals [SDNN], P<0.001, ES=0.357; square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals [RMSSD], P<0.001, ES=0.280; and NN50 count divided by the total number of all NN intervals [pNN50], P<0.001, ES=0.291) as compared with non-diabetic PAD patients. After adjustment for confounders, diabetes remained associated with sedentary behavior (P=0.011), light (P=0.020) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (P=0.008), 6-min walk distance (P=0.030), SDNN (P<0.001), RMSSD (P=0.004), and PNN50 (P=0.004)., Conclusion: Diabetic PAD patients presented lower physical activity level, reduced physical function and impaired autonomic modulation as compared with non-diabetic PAD patients., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the impact of the different types of exertional leg pain on cardiovascular function, functional capacity, and habitual physical activity levels in patients with peripheral arterial disease., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 124 patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease were included. Exertional leg pain was evaluated using the San Diego Claudication Questionnaire. Subsequently, patients were categorized into two groups according to their exertional leg pain: atypical leg pain (non-calf pain and atypical calf pain, n  = 31) and intermittent claudication (classic intermittent claudication symptoms, n  = 93). Cardiovascular function (blood pressure, heart rate, arterial stiffness, and heart rate variability), functional capacity (6-min walk distance, handgrip strength, and short physical performance battery), and habitual physical activity levels were measured., Results: Functional capacity and physical activity levels were similar between patients with atypical leg pain and symptoms of intermittent claudication. However, patients with classic intermittent claudication symptoms presented higher central systolic blood pressure ( P  = 0.028) and arterial stiffness (augmentation index and pulse pressure; P ≤ 0.001 and 0.019, respectively) compared to patients with atypical leg pain., Conclusion: The type of exertional leg pain does not influence functional capacity and habitual physical activity levels in patients with peripheral arterial disease. However, patients with classic intermittent claudication symptoms present impaired cardiovascular function compared to patients with atypical leg pain.

This cross-sectional study compared physical activity levels and barriers between 212 men and women with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Physical activity was objectively measured by an accelerometer. Barriers to physical activity were obtained using a validated questionnaire. Women reported higher amounts of light physical activity ( p  < .001) and lower moderate-vigorous physical activity ( p  < .001) than men. Women more often reported barriers such as "not having anyone to accompany" ( p  = .006), "lack of money" ( p  = .018), "fear of falling or worsening the disease" ( p  = .010), "lack of security" ( p  = .015), "not having places to sit when feeling leg pain" ( p  = .021), and "difficulty in getting to a place to practice physical activity" ( p  = .015). In conclusion, women with symptomatic peripheral artery disease presented with lower amounts of moderate-vigorous activity and more barriers to activity than men. Strategies to minimize the barriers, including group actives and nonpainful exercises, are recommended for women with peripheral artery disease.

Background: Increases in daily physical activity levels is recommended for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, despite this recommendation, little is known about the physical activity patterns of PAD patients., Objective: To describe the physical activity patterns of patients with symptomatic peripheral artery (PAD) disease., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 174 PAD patients with intermittent claudication symptoms. Patients were submitted to clinical, hemodynamic and functional evaluations. Physical activity was objectively measured by an accelerometer, and the time spent in sedentary, low-light, high-light and moderate-vigorous physical activities (MVPA) were obtained. Descriptive analysis was performed to summarize patient data and binary logistic regression was used to test the crude and adjusted associations between adherence to physical activity recommendation and sociodemographic and clinical factors. For all the statistical analyses, significance was accepted at p < 0.05., Results: Patients spent in average of 640 ± 121 min/day, 269 ± 94 min/day, 36 ± 27 min/day and 15 ± 16 min/day in sedentary, low-light, high-light and MVPA, respectively. The prevalence of patients who achieved physical activity recommendations was 3.4%. After adjustment for confounders, a significant inverse association was observed between adherence to physical activity recommendation and age (OR = 0.925; p = 0.004), while time of disease, ankle brachial index and total walking distance were not associated with this adherence criteria (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: The patterns of physical activity of PAD patients are characterized by a large amount of time spent in sedentary behaviors and a low engagement in MVPA. Younger patients, regardless of the clinical and functional factors, were more likely to meet the current physical activity recommendations.

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of smoking on physical activity, walking capacity, and cardiovascular health in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This cross-sectional study included 180 patients with symptomatic PAD. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to smoking history: smoker (n = 39), ex-smoker (n = 113), and never smoker (n = 28). Physical activity levels, physical function, walking capacity, and cardiovascular health parameters (clinical blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and heart rate variability) were assessed. Smoker patients presented higher sympathetic modulation to the heart (low frequency of heart rate variability: smokers, 71 ± 17 nu; ex-smokers, 53 ± 32 nu; never smokers, 49 ± 21 nu, P < .05) and sympathovagal balance (smokers: 2.44 ± 2.76, ex-smokers: 1.14 ± 1.74, never smokers: 1.04 ± 0.99, P < .05) and lower parasympathetic modulation to the heart (high frequency of heart rate variability: smokers, 29 ± 27 nu; ex-smokers, 47 ± 32 nu; never smokers, 51 ± 21 nu, P < .05) than other patients. In conclusion, nonsignificant differences were observed on physical activity levels, physical function, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness (P > .05). Smoking impairs cardiac autonomic modulation in patients with symptomatic PAD., (Copyright © 2019 Society for Vascular Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Postexercise heart rate recovery (HRR) is a non-invasive tool for cardiac autonomic function assessment. Reproducibility of HRR has been established in healthy subjects; however, no study has evaluated this reproducibility in clinical populations who may present autonomic dysfunction. Patients with peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication (IC) often present altered cardiac autonomic function and HRR could be an interesting tool for evaluating autonomic responses to interventions in this population. Therefore, the reproducibility of HRR should be determined in this specific population., Objective: To determine the reproducibility of HRR indices in patients with IC., Methods: Nineteen men with IC underwent two repeated maximal treadmill tests. Raw HR and relative HRR (difference to exercise peak) indices measured at 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300s of recovery were evaluated. The presence of systematic bias was assessed by comparing test and retest mean values via paired t-test. Reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and agreement by typical error (TE), coefficient of variation (CV) and minimal detectable difference (MDD)., Results: There were no significant differences between the test and retest values of all raw HR and relative HRR indices (P ≥ 0·05), except for HR120s (P = 0·032). All indices exhibited excellent reliability (ICC ≥ 0·78). Raw HR and relative HRR indices showed TEs ≤ 6·4 bpm and MDDs ≤ 17·8 bpm. In addition, all indices showed CVs ≤ 13·2%, except HRR30s (CV = 45·6%)., Conclusions: The current results demonstrated that most HRR indices were highly reproducible with no systematic error, excellent reliability and good agreement in patients with IC following maximal graded exercise., (© 2017 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To identify the association between objectively measured physical activity and walking capacity with cognitive function in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease., Methods: This was an observational, cross sectional study. One hundred and thirty patients (age 67 ± 8 years) were recruited at a tertiary centre specializing in vascular disease. Cognitive function (global, memory, executive function and attention) was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool. Physical activity levels (total, light, and moderate-vigorous) were obtained using an accelerometer. A 6 min and 4 m walk test were undertaken to assess walking capacity. Crude and covariate adjusted, linear regression analyses confirmed significant associations between physical activity levels and walking capacity with cognitive function., Results: Positive and significant associations were observed between moderate to vigorous physical activity (p = .039) and walking capacity (p = .030) with memory after adjusting for covariates. No significant association was identified between light physical activity and usual gait speed with any cognitive function outcome., Conclusion: Greater memory performance was associated with greater moderate to vigorous physical activity levels and walking capacity in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Clinical interventions focused on improving moderate to vigorous physical activity levels and walking capacity may provide important therapies to potentially enhance cognitive health in patients with peripheral artery disease., (Copyright © 2018 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze, in people with intermittent claudication, the frequency of individuals who are in each of stages of health behavior change to practice physical activity, and analyze the association of these stages with the walking capacity., Methods: We recruited 150 patients with intermittent claudication treated at a tertiary center, being included those > 30-year-old-individuals and who had ankle-arm index < 0.90. We obtained socio-demographic information, presence of comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors and stages of health behavior change to practice physical activity through a questionnaire, they being pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. Moreover, the walking capacity was measured in a treadmill test (Gardner protocol)., Results: Most individuals were in the maintenance stage (42.7%), however, when the stages of health behavior change were categorized into active (action and maintenance) and inactive (pre-contemplation, contemplation and preparation), 51.3% of the individuals were classified as inactive behavior. There was no association between stages of health behavior change, sociodemographic factors and cardiovascular risk factors. However, patients with intermittent claudication who had lower total walking distance were three times more likely to have inactive behavior., Conclusion: Most patients with intermittent claudication showed an inactive behavior and, in this population, lower walking capacity was associated with this behavior.

This cross-sectional study compared physical activity levels and barriers between 212 men and women with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Physical activity was objectively measured by an accelerometer. Barriers to physical activity were obtained using a validated questionnaire. Women reported higher amounts of light physical activity (p < .001) and lower moderate--vigorous physical activity (p < .001) than men. Women more often reported barriers such as "not having anyone to accompany" (p = .006), "lack of money" (p = .018), "fear of falling or worsening the disease" (p = .010), "lack of security" (p = .015), "not having places to sit when feeling leg pain" (p = .021), and "difficulty in getting to a place to practice physical activity" (p = .015). In conclusion, women with symptomatic peripheral artery disease presented with lower amounts of moderate--vigorous activity and more barriers to activity than men. Strategies to minimize the barriers, including group actives and nonpainful exercises, are recommended for women with peripheral artery disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a single bout of maximal walking on blood and muscle nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, oxidative stress, and inflammation in symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients. Methods: A total of 35 men with symptomatic PAD performed a graded maximal exercise test on a treadmill (3.2 km/h, 2% increase in grade every 2 minutes). Plasma samples and gastrocnemius muscle biopsies were collected preexercise and postexercise for assessment of NO bioavailability (plasma NO and muscle, endothelial NO synthase), oxidative stress and antioxidant function (lipid peroxidation [LPO], catalase [CAT], and superoxide dismutase), and inflammation (interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, intercellular adhesion molecules, and vascular adhesion molecules). The effects of the walking exercise were assessed using paired t tests or Wilcoxon tests. Results: After maximal walking, plasma NO and LPO were unchanged (P > .05), plasma CAT decreased, and all blood inflammatory markers increased (all P ≤ .05). In the disease-affected skeletal muscle, endothelial NO synthase, CAT, LPO, and all inflammatory markers increased, whereas superoxide dismutase decreased (all P ≤ .05). Conclusion: In patients with symptomatic PAD, maximal exercise induces local and systemic impairments, which may play a key role in atherogenesis. Exercise strategies that avoid maximal effort may be important to reduce local and systemic damage and enhance clinical benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial dysfunction caused by defective nitric oxide (NO) signaling plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of intermittent claudication (IC). In the present study, we evaluated the acute effects of sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor that acts by prolonging NO-mediated cGMP signaling in vascular smooth muscle, on blood pressure (BP), skeletal muscle oxygenation, and walking tolerance in patients with IC. A randomized, double-blind, crossover study was conducted in which 12 men with stable IC received two consecutive doses of 50 mg of sildenafil or matching placebo and underwent a symptom-limited exercise test on the treadmill. Changes in gastrocnemius deoxy-hemoglobin by near-infrared spectroscopy estimated peripheral muscle O2 deliveryto- utilization matching. Systolic BP was significantly lower during the sildenafil trial relative to placebo during supine rest (˜15 mmHg), submaximal exercise (∼14 mmHg), and throughout recovery (˜18 mmHg) (P < 0.05). Diastolic BP was also lower after sildenafil during upright rest (˜6 mmHg) and during recovery from exercise (˜7 mmHg) (P < 0.05). Gastrocnemius deoxygenation was consistently reduced during submaximal exercise (˜41%) and at peak exercise (34%) following sildenafil compared with placebo (P < 0.05). However, pain-free walking time (placebo: 335 ± 42 s vs. sildenafil: 294 ± 35 s) and maximal walking time (placebo: 701 ± 58 s vs. sildenafil: 716 ± 62 s) did not differ between trials. Acute administration of sildenafil lowers BP and improves skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise but does not enhance walking tolerance in patients with IC. Whether the beneficial effects of sildenafil on muscle oxygenation can be sustained over time and translated into positive clinical outcomes deserve further consideration in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of physical training in the treatment of intermittent claudication is well established. However, current data do not provide enough information about the prognosis for each case, and there are no data on how walking distances evolve over time with conservative treatment. The goal of this study was to evaluate improvement in walking capacity among patients with intermittent claudication who underwent unsupervised clinical treatment, observing whether sustained treatment would increase or decrease maximum walking distance, whether after 6 months there was a change in the maximum distance, and whether abstinence from smoking and well-conducted walking exercise had independent effects on the outcome. Methods: Five hundred patients with intermittent claudication were surveyed in a prospective, nonrandomized, and uncontrolled study. Maximum walking distance and treatment compliance over time were analyzed. Results: Nonsmoking patients who walked achieved a mean increase during the first 6 months of 33.70 m/mo and a mean increase thereafter of 4.24 m/mo. Smokers who walked achieved an increase during the first 6 months only (mean, 42.92 m/mo). Patients who did not practice physical training exhibited no effect (smokers) or negligible effect (nonsmokers) from the treatment (mean, 7.58 m/mo). Conclusions: Patients who adhered to physical training exhibited a significant increase in maximum walking distance during the first 6 months of treatment only. Patients who did not practice physical training exhibited no effect (smokers) or negligible effect (ex-smokers) from the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), anaerobic threshold, walking economy, and cardiovascular responses during walking are used to guide and monitor walking training in patients with peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication. Women with peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication present greater impairments than men, and evaluating training markers according to sex for decisions regarding walking prescription in this population is important. This study aimed to compare VO2peak, walking economy, anaerobic threshold, and cardiovascular responses during walking in men and women with peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication. Methods: Forty patients (20 men and 20 women with similar baseline characteristics) underwent a cardiopulmonary treadmill test (3.2km/h and 2% increase in slope every 2 minutes until maximal leg pain). The VO2 and rate-pressure product were assessed. Data from men and women were compared using t-tests. Results: There were no significant differences between men and women (VO2peak: 15.0±4.8 versus 13.9±2.9mL·kg-1·min-1, p=0.38; walking economy: 9.6±2.7 versus 8.4±1.6mL·kg-1·min-1, p=0.09; anaerobic threshold: 10.5±3.2 versus 10.5±2.2mL·kg-1·min-1, p=0.98; rate pressure product at 1st stage: 13,465± 2,910 versus 14,445±4,379bpm·mmHg, p=0.41; and rate pressure product at anaerobic threshold:13,673±3,100 versus 16,390±5,870bpm·mmHg, p=0.08 and rate pressure product at peak exercise: 21,253±6,141 versus 21,923±7,414bpm·mmHg, p=0.76, respectively). Conclusion: Men and women with peripheral artery disease and similar baseline characteristics presented similar responses to walking, suggesting that decisions regarding walking prescription and monitoring can be made regardless of sex in this specific population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the acute effect of intermittent walking exercise (WE) on blood pressure (BP) responses in patients with intermittent claudication (IC). Secondly, this study aimed to gain improved insight into the physiological mechanisms controlling BP regulation after intermittent WE in this patient group. METHODS: Twenty patients with IC participated in two experimental sessions in a random order, as follows: WE (15 × 2-min bouts of WE interpolated with 2-min rest intervals) and control (standing rest on a treadmill for 60 min). BP, cardiac output (CO: CO2 rebreathing), and cardiovascular autonomic modulation (spectral analysis of HR variability) were assessed before and after both experimental sessions during supine rest, and stroke volume (SV) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were calculated. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: WE decreased systolic, diastolic, and mean BP, with net effects of -13 ± 2, -5 ± 2, and -7 ± 2 mm Hg versus control, respectively (all P < 0.05). WE also decreased SV (-5.62 ± 1.97 mL, P < 0.05) and CO (-0.05 ± 0.13 L•min-1, P < 0.05) versus preintervention and prevented the observed increase in SVR in the control condition (+4.2 ± 1.4 U, P < 0.05). HR showed a decrease (P < 0.05), consistent with evidence of increased vagal modulation, in the control condition. BP measurements over the subsequent 24 h were similar between experimental conditions. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with IC, WE induced a postexercise hypotension response that had a significant magnitude versus control but was not maintained over the next 24 h of daily activities. The acute postexercise hypotension response was mediated by a decrease in CO and SV, which was not compensated by an augmentation of SVR, as observed in the control arm of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze, in people with intermittent claudication, the frequency of individuals who are in each of stages of health behavior change to practice physical activity, and analyze the association of these stages with the walking capacity. Methods: We recruited 150 patients with intermittent claudication treated at a tertiary center, being included those ≥30-year-old-individuals and who had ankle-arm index ≤0.90. We obtained socio-demographic information, presence of comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors and stages of health behavior change to practice physical activity through a questionnaire, they being pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. Moreover, the walking capacity was measured in a treadmill test (Gardner protocol). Results: Most individuals were in the maintenance stage (42.7%), however, when the stages of health behavior change were categorized into active (action and maintenance) and inactive (pre-contemplation, contemplation and preparation), 51.3% of the individuals were classified as inactive behavior. There was no association between stages of health behavior change, sociodemographic factors and cardiovascular risk factors. However, patients with intermittent claudication who had lower total walking distance were three times more likely to have inactive behavior. Conclusion: Most patients with intermittent claudication showed an inactive behavior and, in this population, lower walking capacity was associated with this behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]