title: Effect of cilostazol prescribed in a pragmatic treatment program for intermittent claudication.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Controlled trials of cilostazol for claudication demonstrate improvements in walking distance and quality of life. Without the structure of a study environment, it is not certain that cilostazol has similar efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of patients prescribed cilostazol for claudication was undertaken. Patients were advised to stop smoking and increase exercise but no formal programs were instituted. The primary outcome measure was patient-reported improvement in claudication symptoms. Secondary outcomes were smoking cessation and participation in regular exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over a 2-year period, 77 patients were prescribed cilostazol as initial treatment for claudication. Follow-up for 3 months was available for 69 (90%) patients. Noncompliance was reported in 20% of patients. Of the overall group, 58% (73% of compliant patients) of patients reported improvement in claudication symptoms, 4% of patients reported smoking cessation, and 7% reported regular exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite minimal behavior modification, up to 70% of patients taking cilostazol report an improvement in claudication symptoms with few side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine and Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000077407:Cilostazol; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D058987:Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058987:Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitors; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077407:Cilostazol
keywords: cilostazol; intermittent claudication; peripheral arterial disease