Measures of arterial function, such as arterial stiffness and endothelial function, are associated with exercise performance in patients with peripheral artery disease.
Do therapies aimed at arterial stiffness and endothelial function improve functional performance in patients with peripheral artery disease?
Arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are associated with impaired functional performance in PAD, highlighting potential new therapeutic targets such as aerobic exercise, statins, and ACE inhibitors.
Functional performance influences quality of life in individuals with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and is also a powerful prognostic marker in these patients. The pathophysiology of impaired functional performance in patients with PAD is incompletely understood. The severity of atherosclerotic burden, non-invasively assessed by the ankle-brachial index (ABI), does not reliably predict the degree of functional impairment observed in PAD patients. We review associations of measures of arterial function (arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction) with functional performance in PAD patients, and also review potential therapies for arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction that could improve functional performance in PAD. Recent studies suggest that measures of arterial function, such as arterial stiffness and endothelial function, are associated with exercise performance in the setting of PAD. These studies have provided new insights into (1) the pathophysiology of functional impairment in PAD, (2) mechanisms of strategies known to be effective such as walking programs, and (3) potential new therapeutic interventions for improving functional performance. Thus, therapies aimed at arterial 'de-stiffening' and improving endothelial function (such as aerobic exercise, statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) may improve functional performance in patients with PAD; however, further investigations are needed.
Coutinho et al. (2011) conducted a review in Peripheral artery disease (PAD). Arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction was evaluated on Functional performance. Measures of arterial function, such as arterial stiffness and endothelial function, are associated with exercise performance in patients with peripheral artery disease.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: