Rehabilitación cardiovascular supervisada y algunos factores de riesgo en pacientes con claudicación intermitente.

Introduction: Intermittent claudication is a life-threatening and limb-threatening condition that constitutes a current health problem. It is very common nowadays and is associated with the presence of some risk factors. Supervised physical exercises are indicated for the treatment of these patients. Supervised cardiovascular rehabilitation (CVR) can be an effective therapy for these patients. Objective: To evaluate the effects of supervised cardiovascular rehabilitation on some risk factors in patients with intermittent claudication. Method: A quasi-experimental, comparative, intervention study was carried out with patients diagnosed with intermittent claudication referred to the department of cardiovascular rehabilitation of the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras between January and December 2017. The sample consisted of two groups: group A, that included 47 patients who underwent supervised rehabilitation and group B, that included 59 cases who underwent outpatient physical therapy. Results: Supervised CVR significantly decreased body mass index (32.8 Kg/m² vs. 29.6 Kg/m² ), values of fibrinogen (349 vs. 294 mg/dL), C-reactive protein (4.8 vs. 2.8 mg/L), glycemia (7.5 vs. 5.6 mmol/L), glycosylated hemoglobin (6.6 vs. 5.6%), total cholesterol (6.3 vs. 4.7 mmol/l) and triglycerides (2.6 vs. 1.4 mmol/l, p<0.001) and increased hemoglobin (12.1 vs. 13.2 g/mL) and HDL cholesterol (0.8 vs. 1.4 mmol/L), p<0.001. Conclusions: Supervised cardiovascular rehabilitation showed a favorable effect on risk factors in patients with intermittent claudication [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]