title: Relationship between walking capacity and ambulatory blood pressure in patients with intermittent claudication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with intermittent claudication (IC) often have high blood pressure (BP), which increases their cardiovascular risk. However, whether walking capacity is associated with BP levels in patients with IC remains unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate whether the total walking distance is associated with ambulatory BP in patients with IC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study of 75 patients with IC (58 men; 17 women). A maximal treadmill test (Gardner protocol) was performed to assess total walking distance in these patients. Furthermore, ambulatory BP, heart rate, rate-pressure product, and BP load were obtained over a 24-h period. One-way analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Walking capacity was correlated negatively with the following: (i) asleep systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean BP and heart rate; (ii) 24-h, awake and asleep RPP; and (iii) awake and asleep systolic BP load (all P<0.05). These associations occurred irrespective of confounders such as age, sex, BMI, smoking status, and number of antihypertensive medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A better walking capacity is associated with lower ambulatory BP parameters in patients with IC.
authors.affiliation: aExercise Hemodynamic Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo bAlbert Einstein Israelite Hospital, São Paulo cSchool of Physical Education, University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco dCenter of Physical Education and Sport, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil eSchool of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Aluísio H R A
authors.initials: AHRA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chehuen
authors.forename: Gabriel G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Cucato
authors.forename: Antônio H G
authors.initials: AHG
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Askew
authors.forename: João P A S
authors.initials: JPAS
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Crivaldo C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wolosker
authors.forename: Claudia L M
authors.initials: CLM
authors.lastname: Forjaz
authors.forename: Raphael M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ritti-Dias
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016138:Walking