Verizon mHealth Solution for Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

This is a single-center, randomized trial designed to examine the hypothesis that a lifestyle-based mHealth peripheral artery disease (PAD) prevention program will improve physical activity, fitness, important PAD risk factors and quality of life (QOL).

The investigators may enroll up to 55 men and women being evaluated for leg pain from Duke PAD cardiovascular clinics or after lower extremity angioplasty in the Duke catheterization laboratory. Of the 55 men and women volunteers who may be initially consented, the investigators anticipate a portion (potentially 20%) may drop out during the study timeline, and approximately 45 are expected to complete this study. Following informed consent and baseline testing, the participants will be randomized (1.25:1.00) into either a mHealth (N=25) or usual care group (N=20) [for comparison] for a 12-week period. All patients will be evaluated for walking ability on a treadmill test, quality of life questionnaires, health literacy related to PAD and the most important risk factors specific to PAD (blood glucose if diabetic, daily physical activity and blood pressure).

Inclusion criteria

• Adequate clinical stability has been achieved in the judgment of the investigator to allow participation in study assessments and the intervention
• A history of stable intermittent claudication for >2 months, and an ABI <0.9 at rest
• No contraindications to exercise training
• All subjects will be on the recommended regimen of statin and antiplatelet therapy
• Signed informed consent document indicating that the patient understands the purpose of and procedures required for the study and is willing to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Present or a past history of gangrene, impending limb loss or osteomyelitis
• Severe peripheral neuropathy
• Any condition other than PAD that limits walking for example arthritis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Unstable angina, history of significant left main disease or three vessel coronary artery disease (>70% stenosis, unprotected by grafts) or recent myocardial infarction (less than eight weeks)
• Chest pain during treadmill exercise which appears before the onset of claudication, or 2 mm ST depression during exercise regardless of the results of tests for myocardial ischemia
• Refusal or inability to give informed consent or inability or unwillingness to comply with the study requirements.
• Dementia that precludes ability to participate in and follow study protocols
• Enrollment in a clinical trial not approved for co-enrollment.