Walking Impairment Questionnaire and Walking Tests are Reliable Indicators of Success of Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease.

The functional capacity of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) represents an important indicator of patient health and quality of life. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the validity of a walking impairment questionnaire (WIQ) compared with walking tests for the estimation of the therapeutic effect of lower limb revascularization. The study included 36 patients with PAD in whom successful percutaneous revascularization of a lower limb was performed due to disabling intermittent claudication. Before the revascularization procedure and 4-6 weeks after successful revascularization, clinical examination, ankle brachial index (ABI) measurement, 6-min walk test, treadmill test, and WIQ were performed. After revascularization, significant improvement in walking capacity was shown by both 6-min walk test and treadmill exercise test as well as with WIQ. However, the increase in ABI was borderline. Significant correlations between improvement of 6-min walk test and treadmill exercise test results and the sum of WIQ points were found. The ABI was significantly correlated with treadmill maximal walking distance only. According to our results, the WIQ correlates well with walking tests and is a reliable indicator of effective revascularization of lower limb arterial occlusions, even in patients with a nonsignificant improvement of the ABI.

Use of the walking impairment questionnaire as a measure of functional assessment.

Background: A significant consequence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an impaired functional capacity and deteriorated quality of life. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the usefulness of a symptom questionnaire and walk tests for the determination of the functional capacity of patients with intermittent claudication. Patients and methods: The study included 53 patients (38 males) with stable claudication distance (50-300m). A detailed history and physical examination, ankle-brachial index (ABI), treadmill exercise test, and 6-minute walk test were performed and compared to walking impairment questionnaire (WIQ). Results: Claudication distance reported from patients' history and 6-minute walk test were significantly correlated with ABI (p=0.033, p=0.044). There were no significant correlations between ABI and treadmill walk test or WIQ. Results of WIQ were significantly correlated with the history and the most of performed walk tests: treadmill initial and maximal claudication distance (p=0.004 and 0.012, respectively) and 6-minute walk test (p=0.026). 6-minute walk test was correlated with maximal claudication distance of treadmill (p=0.018), but not with an initial claudication distance. Conclusions: The validity of WIQ is comparable to walk tests and represents the useful technique for the investigation of the functional capacity of patients with PAD. A self-report based on WIQ enables a longer period of observation. It should be routinely used as a basic diagnostic tool for the estimation of the functional capacity of PAD patients with stable intermittent claudication.