Efficacy of Cardiac Rehab for Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease Versus Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Efficacy of Cardiac Rehab for Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease Versus Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Comparing the Efficacy of Cardiac Rehabilitation for Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease to Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Exercise is commonly recommended as a treatment for patients who present with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Although a great deal of research has supported the efficacy of exercise rehabilitation for PAD, it is infrequently implemented into clinical practices.To date, no comparison of cardiac rehabilitation efficacy and acute exercise responses has been made between patients with PAD and patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Considering some of the parallels between the two conditions, as they are both atherosclerotic conditions, and the strong recommendations for exercise in both populations, it is worthwhile to compare the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation responses. It is also unclear if the magnitude of response for PAD patients is dependent on biological sex and clinical presentation as this may influence the development of exercise prescriptions. This study will be a prospective two-arm cohort study with both groups (CAD and PAD) undergoing the same intervention (standard 6 month out-patient cardiac rehabilitation program offered at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Rumsey Centre). The primary variable of interest will be peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) with a secondary variable of interest being functional capacity, as measured by the 6-minute walk test. Tertiary variables of interest will include walking impairment, as measured by the Walking Impairment Questionnaire, and quality of life, as measured by the Short Form-36 health survey (SF-36).The second objective of this study is to determine if the magnitude of responses to cardiac rehabilitation for patients with PAD are dependent on biological sex or type of PAD (asymptomatic, post-surgical intervention, or intermittent claudication).Exploratory objectives include comparing acute exercise responses (prescribed exercise training load, actual training load, exercising heart rate and rating of perceived exertion) between PAD and CAD patients.

This study is a prospective two-arm cohort study with both groups (CAD and PAD) undergoing the same intervention (standard 6 month out-patient cardiac rehabilitation program offered at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Rumsey Centre). The standard 6-month out-patient cardiac rehabilitation program consists of weekly 1.5 hour visits to the TRI Rumsey Centre. After determining baseline VO2peak from the exercise stress test, an individualized walking exercise prescription will be developed by a cardiac rehabilitation supervisor which corresponds to approximately 60 to 80% of the participant's VO2peak. Participants will be invited to walk around the track and attend education sessions at the same time every week for six months. Patients will be encouraged to gradually increase their exercise time walking speed. Patients will be encouraged to exercise five times a week with four sessions occurring outside of the cardiac rehabilitation program. Both PAD and CAD participants will undergo the same standard cardiac rehabilitation program.

cardiac rehabilitation, cardiorespiratory fitness, functional capacity, acute exercise response, quality of life

All participants will be enrolled in the cardiac rehabilitation program which involves weekly 1.5 hour visits at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Rumsey Centre for 6 months. Each visit will consist of an exercise and a risk factor education lecture. Prior to the start of the program, participants will attend two assessment sessions with cardiac rehabilitation staff members to review medical history as well as complete a cardiopulmonary exercise test. During the cardiac rehabilitation program, participants will walk at 60-80% of their VO2peak heart rate based on the results of their exercise test, as per standard care procedures. Adjustments will be made to the patient's exercise prescription under the discretion of the cardiac rehabilitation supervisor, as per standard care procedures. Patients will also be asked to exercise an additional four times during the week on their own time for a total of five times per week, as per standard care procedures.

Patients diagnosed with peripheral artery disease will undergo a 6 month cardiac rehabilitation program that is standard of care at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Rumsey Centre.

Patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease will undergo a 6 month cardiac rehabilitation program that is standard of care at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Rumsey Centre. The responses to cardiac rehabilitation for participants with coronary artery disease will be compared to participants with peripheral artery disease.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a 6 month program in which patients enrolled attend weekly classes which consist of individualized exercise and risk factor education lectures. This intervention is consistent with standard care procedures for the Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Rumsey Centre.

To determine if the magnitude of response is dependent on biological sex or type of PAD (asymptomatic, post-surgical intervention, intermittent claudication)

Comparing exercising heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and exercise prescriptions between PAD and CAD participants

Inclusion Criteria: diagnosed with lower extremity PAD or CAD diagnosed with concomitant PAD and CAD Exclusion Criteria: vascular aneurysms, chronic heart failure, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, or chronic kidney disease foot ulcers or skin breakdowns which may impede ability to exercise cannot follow instructions in English