Short interval or continuous training programs to improve walking distance for intermittent claudication: Pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Supervised exercise training is part of first-line therapies for intermittent claudication. Short periods of intensive treadmill training have been found efficient; however, the optimal modalities remain to be determined, especially interval training with active recovery (ITAR). In this prospective assessor-blinded single-centre pilot study, we assessed the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial comparing parallel 4-week intensive rehabilitation programs comprising treadmill training performed as ITAR or conventional training with constant slope and speed interspersed with rest periods (CT). METHODS: A total of 38 in- or out-patients were randomised to the ITAR or CT program for 5 days/week for 4weeks. The primary outcome was change in maximum walking distance measured on a graded treadmill before and after the program. RESULTS: Adherence was high. All training sessions were completed in the ITAR program and only a few were not completed in the CT program (median 100% [Q1-Q3 96-100]). Tolerance was excellent (no adverse events). VO2peak was low in both groups, corresponding to moderate to severe exercise intolerance. The 2 groups did not differ in the primary outcome (median ITAR vs CT 480 [135-715] vs 315m [0-710]; p=0.62) or other walking distances (constant speed and gradient treadmill test). For all 38 participants, both programs greatly increased maximum walking distance in the graded treadmill test: median 415 [240-650] to 995m [410-1490], with a large effect size (p<10-4). CONCLUSION: A 4-week intensive rehabilitation program with ITAR or CT for intermittent claudication showed high adherence, was well tolerated, and improved walking distance as much as that reported for longer conventional programs. These findings prompt the design of a larger multicenter randomised controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01734603.

Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in patients with lymphedema referred for complete decongestive therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is one of the most frequent chronic diseases in the general population. The nocturnal rostral fluid shift is accepted as a key mechanism in OSA pathogenesis in medical conditions associated with fluid overload. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of OSA in patients with lymphedema. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in patients with lymphedema hospitalized for complete decongestive therapy between December 2016 and November 2017. A nocturnal respiratory polygraphy, an Epworth sleepiness scale, and lymphedema volume measurements were performed on the first day of decongestive therapy. OSA was diagnosed in patients with an apnea-hypopnea index of five or more events per hour and patients who had been previously diagnosed with OSA and treated by continuous positive airway pressure were identified. RESULTS: Forty-three patients completed the study. The prevalence of OSA was 74% and was higher for patients with lymphedema of the lower limbs (85%) vs upper limbs (56%). OSA severity was correlated with a marker of lower limb lymphedema severity (P = .012). The body mass index was higher than in patients with OSA than patients without OSA (median, 31.0 kg/m2 [25th; 75th percentiles, 25.3; 37.0 kg/m2] vs median, 24.2 kg/m2 [25th; 75th percentiles, 22.7; 26.7 kg/m2]; P < .01). Hypertension was prevalent in 47% of patients with OSA vs 18% in patients without OSA. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with lymphedema presenting for complete decongestive therapy present a high prevalence rate of OSA, particularly in those with lower limb lymphedema. OSA severity was correlated with a marker of lower limb lymphedema severity. These results suggest that overweight and obese patients with lymphedema should be screened systematically for OSA.

Impact of an educational program on the quality of life of patients with lymphedema: A preliminary evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: We report on the preliminary evaluation of a well-designed program, Living with Lymphedema. This longitudinal cohort study assessed patients' quality of life using questionnaires. Our main objective was to evaluate the satisfaction of the patients and their adherence to the program. This was done using a specific questionnaire of satisfaction as well as by noting patients' adherence to the program (number of patients attending all three consultations). The secondary objective was to assess the effect of the program on the patient's quality of life. The assessment criteria were the evolution of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and EuroQol questionnaire scores between the first (C1) and third (C3) consultations. METHODS: The Living with Lymphedema program targeted all patients with lymphedema in the Grenoble (France) conurbation and within the GRANTED health care network that includes vascular medicine specialists, primary care physicians, physical therapists, and dietitians in the Alpine region of France. All studied patients were ambulatory patients. The GRANTED network took care only of the educational aspect of the disease. All patients with primary or secondary lymphedema were offered the Living with Lymphedema program, whatever their age and the location of the lymphedema (upper or lower limbs). The collection of patient data conformed to the ethical and administrative regulations of the regional health authority. Grenoble Institutional Review Board (CPP Sud-Est V; No. 5891) approval for the study was specifically obtained for this evaluation on December 24, 2012. The program was built around one-to-one consultations, group workshops, and more specialized appointments. It was complementary to the routine medical care received by the patient (not evaluated in this study). It proposed three individual "educational" consultations, seven group workshops, and two specialized consultations with a dietitian. All the consultations or workshops were led by certified professionals trained in therapeutic education. RESULTS: The cohort was the 34 patients included in the program. We found a significant improvement in the physical dimension of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey score (P = .01) between C1 and C3 but not for the psychic dimension. Visual analog scale scores of the ability to cope with the lymphedema showed a statistically significant improvement between C1 and C3 (P = .05). No difference was observed in adherence to compression therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This therapeutic educational program showed a significant improvement in several criteria of quality of life and in the autonomy of patients with lymphedema.