The CF & SVN Joint Claudication Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Circulation Foundation & Society for Vascular Nursing Joint Claudication Study: The Investigation of Current Supervised Exercise Programmes - A Pilot Study
IRAS ID
225290
Contact name
Christopher Imray
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital of Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 30 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
We are aiming to investigate a treatment known as supervised exercise therapy which is offered to patients with pain in their legs, particularly on exertion due to narrowing in the arteries. This condition is known as intermittent claudication. Current guidelines recommend that patients with this condition should be offered a period of supervised exercise along with medications to thin the blood and reduce cholesterol levels. Despite these guidelines there is no current specific details regarding how these exercise programs should be delivered. Also, recent studies suggest that only 10% of patients are suitable for the treatment. We aim to investigate barriers and reasons for patients not being offered supervised exercise therapy as well as compare improvements in quality of life between 5 different UK vascular centres with an established program. This information will provide much needed data that will help develop a standardised way of delivering exercise therapy and help to overcome barriers to attendance and participation in the future.\nAll patients with a diagnosis of intermittent claudication will be eligible for the study as diagnosed by a vascular practitioner.\nWe aim to collect detailed information regarding suitability for exercise therapy through screening. We will collect baseline information including symptoms, medical history, medications and walking distance. Participants will complete quality of life questionnaires at baseline and following 3 months of supervised exercise. Patients will be recruited from 5 major UK vascular centres; University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire, The Black Country Vascular Unit, Imperial College London Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary and The John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford.Summary of Results
The study was carried out by researchers from four hospitals in the UK; University Hospital of Coventry and Warwick (UHCW), Hull Royal Infirmary (HRI), St Marys Hospital Imperial College London (IMP) and The Royal Wolverhampton Hospital (RWH). 1208 participants were screened in the four hospitals. From these, 218 patients with intermittent claudication underwent a programme of supervised exercise therapy. Participants received a twelve-week course of supervised exercise therapy at their local hospital (according to local hospital protocol).
We found that 73% of people referred to vascular clinics were possibly eligible for supervised exercise therapy. From these eligible people, only 24.7% decided to take part. There were many reasons why people did not wish to participate. The most common were travel issues, personal reasons, and work-related problems. Those that attended did not attend all the planned sessions. Most people went to around 9 sessions. We found that going to the exercise classes meant that people could walk further, had less pain and better quality of life after they had completed the programme. We found that generally, people had better quality of life after 1 year as well.
This study has highlighted that although supervised exercise therapy is a good treatment for patients with intermittent claudication that it is still not suitable for many patients for a variety of reasons. We have learnt that reasons are different in different parts of the country. We hope this data can be used to help design better programmes for people so that more can take part and get the benefits we have shown here.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0446
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion