SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To describe physical activity habits and barriers for physical activity practice in patients with peripheral artery disease and claudication symptoms during Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey study, 127 patients with peripheral artery disease (59.8% men; 68±9 years old; and 81.9% had the peripheral artery disease diagnosis ≥5 years old) were included. The physical activity habits and barriers for physical activity practice were assessed through telephone interview using a questionnaire with questions related to: (a) COVID-19 personal care; (b) overall health; (c) physical activity habits; (d) for those who were inactive, the barriers for physical activity practice. RESULTS: Only 26.8% of patients reported practicing physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exercise characteristics more common among these patients include walking, performed at least 5 days a week, during 31–60 min at light intensity. In contrast, among physically inactive patients, pain, injury or disability (55%), the COVID-19 pandemic (50%), the need to rest due to leg pain (29%), and lack of energy (27%) were the most frequent barriers to physical activity practice. CONCLUSION: The physical activity level of patients with peripheral artery disease is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resumo Contexto A pandemia do Coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19) tem afetado negativamente o comportamento da população. Nesse contexto, o impacto da pandemia da COVID-19 no tratamento medicamentoso dos pacientes com doença arterial periférica (DAP) e claudicação intermitente (CI) permanece obscuro. Objetivos Analisar o impacto da pandemia da COVID-19 no tratamento medicamentoso dos pacientes com DAP e CI. Métodos Neste estudo observacional transversal, 136 pacientes com DAP e CI, recrutados do nosso banco de dados, responderam por telefone um questionário envolvendo as seguintes questões: a) cuidados com a COVID-19; b) saúde global; c) tratamento das doenças. Posteriormente, os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos, de acordo com a dificuldade para a aquisição dos medicamentos (DAM: dificuldade e SDAM: sem dificuldade), para a comparação da saúde global entre os dois grupos. Resultados Dezessete porcento dos pacientes reportaram dificuldades para a aquisição dos medicamentos durante a pandemia. Uma maior prevalência desses pacientes reportou estar mais triste (56,5% versus 24,8%, p < 0,01) e com mais dificuldades para dormir (56,5% versus 24,8%, p < 0,01) em relação aos pacientes do grupo SDAM. Os grupos não apresentaram diferenças para o declínio na capacidade de caminhada, ansiedade, estresse e depressão (p > 0,05). Conclusões Uma maior prevalência de pacientes do grupo DAM reportou estar mais triste e com mais dificuldade para dormir em comparação ao grupo SDAM durante a pandemia da COVID-19.

Abstract Background The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a negative impact on the population’s behavior. In this context, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on drug treatment of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication (IC) remains unclear. Objectives To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on drug treatment of patients with PAD and IC. Methods In this cross-sectional, observational study, 136 patients with PAD and IC were recruited from our database and answered a questionnaire by telephone involving the following questions: a) precautions related to COVID-19; b) general health status; and c) treatment of diseases. Subsequently, patients were divided into two groups according to difficulty in obtaining their drugs (DOD: difficulty obtaining drugs, or NDOD: no difficulty obtaining drugs) and overall health was compared between groups. Results Seventeen percent of patients reported difficulties with obtaining drugs during the pandemic. A higher proportion of these patients reported being sadder (56.5% vs. 24.8%, P < 0.01) and having more difficulty sleeping (56.5% vs. 24.8%, P < 0.01) than of the patients in the NDOD group (P <0.01). The groups did not differ in terms of impairment of walking capability, anxiety, stress, or depression (P> 0.05). Conclusions A higher proportion of patients in the DOD group reported being sadder and having greater difficulty sleeping compared to the NDOD group during the COVID-19 pandemic.