title: Lower functional capacity is associated with higher cardiovascular risk in Brazilian patients with intermittent claudication.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between cardiovascular risk estimated by the Framingham Risk Score and functional capacity in patients with peripheral artery disease using a 6-minute walk test. Fifty-six participants with intermittent claudication were recruited. The Framingham Risk Score was calculated and used to split the participants into two groups: Group A (mild and moderate risk) and group B (severe risk). The ankle-brachial index (ABI) was calculated for each leg using a handheld Doppler probe. Walking ability was verified by a 6-minute walk test. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample's demographic and clinical characteristics. To compare clinical data between the two groups, a t test or Mann-Whitney test was used as appropriate according to the type of variable being analyzed. The Pearson coefficient was used to verify the association between cardiovascular risk and functional capacity. Group A had 19 participants (60.5 ± 6.3 years; 36.8% male) and group B had 37 participants (63.4 ± 8.7 years; 73% male). No differences were observed when comparing the ABI between both groups. The total distances covered by the men in group A were shorter compared with those of group B (331.4 + 51.5 vs 257.9 + 84.0; P = .02). The cardiovascular risk score was negative and was significantly correlated with total distances for men (r = -0.53; P = .001) and with pain-free distances for women (r = -0.46; P = .03). Functional capacity, evaluated through a 6-minute walk test, seems to be associated with 10-year total mortality risk.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: rcgsilva@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: Rita de Cassia
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Gengo e Silva
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute (InCor), Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Ferreira Amorim
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.affiliation: Claudication Unit, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Department, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wolosker
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Clinical Investigation of Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Marciano
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Consolim-Colombo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*