Treadmill test is limited in elderly patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Authors :: Wolosker N
Ritti-Dias RM
Câmara LC
Garcia YM
Jacob-Filho W
Puech-Leao P
Source :: VASA. Zeitschrift fur Gefasskrankheiten [Vasa] 2010 Aug; Vol. 39 (3), pp. 237-41.
Publication Year :: 2010
Abstract: Background: To describe the applicability and the performance of the treadmill test in elderly patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and without PAD (non-PAD).<br />Patients and Methods: Fifty consecutive PAD and non-PAD elderly patients performed a progressive treadmill test. The proportion of patients who were unable to perform the test and the maximal walking distance were obtained.<br />Results: The proportion of patients who were unable to perform the treadmill test was similar between PAD (16.6 %) and non-PAD patients (12.5 %), P = .57. Maximal walking time for patients who performed the treadmill test was not different between PAD (232 +/- 218 s) and non-PAD patients (308 +/- 289 s), P = .37.<br />Conclusions: The treadmill test is limited in almost 20 % of elderly patients with PAD and non-PAD. These results highlight the need for other forms of exercise stress tests in order to assess the peripheral limitation of patients with PAD.