Exercise therapy for chronic symptomatic peripheral artery disease: a clinical consensus document of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Aorta and Peripheral Vascular Diseases in collaboration with the European Society of Vascular Medicine and the European Society for Vascular Surgery

Mazzolai, L, Belch, J, Venermo, M, Aboyans, V, Brodmann, M, Bura-Rivière, A, Debus, S, Espinola-Klein, C, Harwood, AE ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5745-2564, Hawley, JA, Lanzi, S, Madarič, J, Mahé, G, Malatesta, D, Schlager, O, Schmidt-Trucksäss, A, Seenan, C, Sillesen, H, Tew, GA and Visonà, A (2024) Exercise therapy for chronic symptomatic peripheral artery disease: a clinical consensus document of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Aorta and Peripheral Vascular Diseases in collaboration with the European Society of Vascular Medicine and the European Society for Vascular Surgery. European Heart Journal, 45 (15). pp. 1303-1321. ISSN 0195-668X

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Abstract

All guidelines worldwide strongly recommend exercise as a pillar of the management of patients affected by lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). Exercise therapy in this setting presents different modalities, and a structured programme provides optimal results. This clinical consensus paper is intended for clinicians to promote and assist for the set-up of comprehensive exercise programmes to best advice in patients with symptomatic chronic PAD. Different exercise training protocols specific for patients with PAD are presented. Data on patient assessment and outcome measures are narratively described based on the current best evidence. The document ends by highlighting disparities in access to supervised exercise programmes across Europe and the series of gaps for evidence requiring further research.