Outcome of Conservative Therapy of Patients with Severe Intermittent Claudication

AbstractBackground. Intermittent claudication due to peripheral artery disease (PAD) can be treated conservatively, or by revascularization.Objectives. To assess the short-term outcome of conservatively-treated claudicants, and determine predictors for clinical improvement.Design. A retrospective cohort study.Methods. We evaluated Fontaine stage, walking distance and ankle brachial index (ABI) at baseline and after median 9 months (interquartile range (IQR) 6–24) in 181 patients with severe claudication.Results. We found clinical improvement by at least one Fontaine stage in 38 patients (21%) with an increased walking distance from baseline median 100 m (IQR 50–150) to follow-up median 650 m (IQR 300 to unlimited; p