Endurance exercise training in patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysm : a randomised controlled pilot study

Objective - To investigate the feasibility of endurance exercise training in patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and to obtain preliminary data of its impact on important health outcomes.

Design - Randomised controlled pilot study.

Setting - University rehabilitation facility.

Participants - Twenty eight patients with small AAA (age 72 ± 7 years; mean ± SD).

Interventions - Participants were randomised to a 12-week program of moderate-intensity endurance exercise or standard care control (encouragement to exercise only).

Main Outcome Measures - Safety was assessed in terms of the frequency of adverse events and changes in maximum AAA diameter. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks including cardiopulmonary fitness (ventilatory threshold), health-related quality of life (SF-36v2), and markers of vascular risk (e.g. blood pressure and hs-CRP).

Results - Of 545 patients contacted, 28 (5%) entered the trial. There were 3 dropouts (11%). Adherence to the exercise programme was 94%. There were no paradoxical increases in AAA size or adverse clinical events. Ventilatory threshold increased in the exercise group, but not the control group (adjusted mean difference 2.5 mL·kg-1·min-1; 95% confidence interval 0.5 to 4.5; d =0.82). Systolic blood pressure and hs-CRP decreased in the exercise group compared with the control group (d =0.34 and d =0.58, respectively). There were no substantial changes in anthropometric variables or quality of life.

Conclusions - Despite a low recruitment rate, the findings suggest that moderate-intensity endurance exercise training is feasible in patients with small AAA, and can evoke improvements in important health outcomes.