Nevertheless , there was " low-level " evidence that HEPs can improve walking capacity and quality of life in patients with intermittent claudication when compared with baseline or in comparison to usual care/observation control .
In addition , improvements with  HEPs  may be inferior to those evoked by supervised exercise training .
We aim ed to conduct a systematic review of the evidence for structured , home-based exercise programmes ( HEPs ) in patients with intermittent claudication .
The vascular nurse in practice: Results of prescribed exercise training in patients with intermittent claudication.
Intermittent claudication ( IC ) is a mild stage of peripheral arterial disease that affects between 3 % and 7 % of the population and up to 1 in 5 patients over the age of 75 years . Risk factors such as hypertension , hyperlipidemia , diabetes , smoking , and genetics increase the incidence of peripheral arterial disease . Patients with IC have limitations in functional capacity and can benefit from regular exercise . Walking is the preferred mode of exercise and improves the symptoms of claudication in several ways . Vascular nurses can play an important role during exercise therapy . A personalized , home-based exercise program can be developed , and nurses can assist and motivate patients during follow-up periods . Helping patients to quit smoking and control other risk-factor modifications ( ie , high blood pressure and lipid levels ) also has high priority in daily practice of the vascular nurse . This prospect i ve study will illustrate the results of prescribed home-based exercise training by a vascular nurse on the maximum painless walking distance for patients with IC and will be applied to subgroups of vascular pathology
Nevertheless , there was " low-level " evidence that HEPs can improve walking capacity and quality of life in patients with intermittent claudication when compared with baseline or in comparison to usual care/observation control .
In addition , improvements with  HEPs  may be inferior to those evoked by supervised exercise training .
We aim ed to conduct a systematic review of the evidence for structured , home-based exercise programmes ( HEPs ) in patients with intermittent claudication .