Background: This study aimed to analyze the effect of frailty on walking capacity and physical activity levels of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Methods: A cross-sectional study including 216 symptomatic PAD patients (e.g. claudication) was conducted. Moreover, the frailty profile was established, for which six-minute walk test, Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ), and physical activity level were evaluated.
Results: Frailty was prevalent in 13.4%, 72.2%, and 14.4% of frail, pre-frail, and not-frail patients, respectively. Walking capacity was lower in frail patients than in not-frail patients (p < 0.024). The domains of distance and speed of WIQ were lower in frail patients than in not-frail patients, and these domains were also lower in pre-frail than in not-frail patients (p < 0.050 for all). The domain of stairs was lower in frail patients than in not-frail and pre-frail patients (p = 0.016). Physical activity levels were similar among groups (p > 0.050).
Conclusion: Frailty is associated with further walking impairment in patients with PAD.
Keywords: Fitness; Frailty; Intermittent claudication; Peripheral artery disease; Physical activity.
Copyright © 2021 Society for Vascular Nursing, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.