Intermittent Pneumatic Compression With and Without Exercise to Improve Functioning in Peripheral Artery Disease

NCT ID: NCT03871075

Last Updated: 2025-08-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

230 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-01-02

Study Completion Date

2026-11-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The INTERCEDE randomized trial will establish whether six-months of intermittent pneumatic compression combined with walking exercise improves walking endurance at six-month follow-up, compared to walking exercise + sham compression therapy, in people with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). The INTERCEDE trial will also determine whether intermittent pneumatic compression therapy improves walking endurance at 6-month follow-up, compared to a sham compression therapy. The trial will also determine whether benefits of intermittent pneumatic compression persist after intermittent pneumatic compression treatment is completed.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Walking exercise is first-line therapy for PAD. However, many PAD patients are unable or unwilling to exercise. Therefore, in people with PAD, the investigators will determine whether intermittent pneumatic compression augments the benefits of exercise and whether intermittent pneumatic compression alone improves walking performance compared to sham control. The investigators will conduct a randomized trial (2 x 2 factorial design) of 230 PAD participants randomized to one of four groups: Group A: intermittent pneumatic compression + exercise; Group B: intermittent pneumatic compression+ "no exercise" control; Group C: sham control + exercise; and Group D: sham control + "no exercise" control. The intermittent pneumatic compression and sham interventions will be delivered for six months. The primary outcome is change in six-minute walk distance at 6-month follow-up. In secondary aims, the investigators will determine whether the benefits of intermittent pneumatic compression persist even after intermittent pneumatic compression is discontinued and delineate mechanisms by which intermittent pneumatic compression affects walking performance, by measuring changes in MRI-measured calf muscle perfusion and physical activity. The investigators will determine whether intermittent pneumatic compression improves systemic endothelial function, by measuring changes in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Peripheral Artery Disease

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors
Group assignment regarding the intermittent pneumatic compression device is double-blinded and neither investigators nor participants in the study will know which intermittent pneumatic compression device each participant has (therapeutic intervention vs. sham). Participants will be aware of their exercise group assignment after randomization, but the study coordinators collecting follow-up data will be unaware of each participant's group assignment.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

IPC + exercise

Participants will be asked to wear the intermittent pneumatic compression device for up to three hours daily. They will be helped to engage in home-based walking exercise therapy.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

intermittent pneumatic compression

Intervention Type DEVICE

Intermittent pneumatic compression is a non-invasive intervention, consisting of an air pump inside inflatable cuffs that are wrapped around the feet, ankles, and calves. The cuffs rapidly inflate to a pressure of 120 mm Hg, which is sustained for three seconds, followed by rapid deflation. Participants will be asked to wear the device for two hours daily. The device will inflate 180 times/hour.

exercise

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be asked to walk for exercise five days/week, working up to 50 minutes of exercise per day. The intervention includes a) group meetings at the medical center with the coach and other PAD participants; b) regularly scheduled individual telephone check-in by the coach c) weekly remote monitoring by the coach; d) use of the activity monitor to monitor exercise intensity and duration.

IPC + "no exercise" control

Participants will be asked to wear the intermittent pneumatic compression device for up to three hours daily. They will be asked to participate in an educational/informational intervention consisting of an attention control intervention

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

intermittent pneumatic compression

Intervention Type DEVICE

Intermittent pneumatic compression is a non-invasive intervention, consisting of an air pump inside inflatable cuffs that are wrapped around the feet, ankles, and calves. The cuffs rapidly inflate to a pressure of 120 mm Hg, which is sustained for three seconds, followed by rapid deflation. Participants will be asked to wear the device for two hours daily. The device will inflate 180 times/hour.

Health Education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants attend health-education lectures and receive telephone calls at the same frequency as the exercise group. On-site lectures are delivered by faculty and staff at the medical center. Telephone calls review health-related handouts from the NIA website that are mailed in advance of the telephone call. Content does not include exercise information.

sham control + exercise

Participants will be asked to wear a sham intermittent pneumatic compression device for up to three hours daily. The sham device inflates at the same frequency, but to a much lower systolic pressure, compared to the therapeutic pneumatic compression device. Participants in this group will be helped to engage in home-based walking exercise therapy.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

exercise

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be asked to walk for exercise five days/week, working up to 50 minutes of exercise per day. The intervention includes a) group meetings at the medical center with the coach and other PAD participants; b) regularly scheduled individual telephone check-in by the coach c) weekly remote monitoring by the coach; d) use of the activity monitor to monitor exercise intensity and duration.

Sham device

Intervention Type DEVICE

The sham control device is a non-invasive intervention, consisting of an air pump inside inflatable cuffs that are wrapped around the feet, ankles, and calves. The cuffs rapidly inflate to a pressure of 25 mm Hg, which is sustained for three seconds, followed by rapid deflation. Participants will be asked to wear the device for two hours daily. The device will inflate 180 times/hour.

sham control + "no exercise" control

Participants will be asked to wear a sham intermittent pneumatic compression device for up to three hours daily. The sham device inflates at the same frequency, but to a much lower systolic pressure, compared to the therapeutic pneumatic compression device. Participants will be asked to participate in an educational/informational intervention, designed as an attention control group.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Sham device

Intervention Type DEVICE

The sham control device is a non-invasive intervention, consisting of an air pump inside inflatable cuffs that are wrapped around the feet, ankles, and calves. The cuffs rapidly inflate to a pressure of 25 mm Hg, which is sustained for three seconds, followed by rapid deflation. Participants will be asked to wear the device for two hours daily. The device will inflate 180 times/hour.

Health Education

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants attend health-education lectures and receive telephone calls at the same frequency as the exercise group. On-site lectures are delivered by faculty and staff at the medical center. Telephone calls review health-related handouts from the NIA website that are mailed in advance of the telephone call. Content does not include exercise information.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

intermittent pneumatic compression

Intermittent pneumatic compression is a non-invasive intervention, consisting of an air pump inside inflatable cuffs that are wrapped around the feet, ankles, and calves. The cuffs rapidly inflate to a pressure of 120 mm Hg, which is sustained for three seconds, followed by rapid deflation. Participants will be asked to wear the device for two hours daily. The device will inflate 180 times/hour.

Intervention Type DEVICE

exercise

Participants will be asked to walk for exercise five days/week, working up to 50 minutes of exercise per day. The intervention includes a) group meetings at the medical center with the coach and other PAD participants; b) regularly scheduled individual telephone check-in by the coach c) weekly remote monitoring by the coach; d) use of the activity monitor to monitor exercise intensity and duration.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Sham device

The sham control device is a non-invasive intervention, consisting of an air pump inside inflatable cuffs that are wrapped around the feet, ankles, and calves. The cuffs rapidly inflate to a pressure of 25 mm Hg, which is sustained for three seconds, followed by rapid deflation. Participants will be asked to wear the device for two hours daily. The device will inflate 180 times/hour.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Health Education

Participants attend health-education lectures and receive telephone calls at the same frequency as the exercise group. On-site lectures are delivered by faculty and staff at the medical center. Telephone calls review health-related handouts from the NIA website that are mailed in advance of the telephone call. Content does not include exercise information.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

IPC

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

All participants will have PAD. PAD will be defined as follows: first, an ankle-brachial index (ABI) \< or = 0.90 at the baseline study visit is an inclusion criterion for PAD. Second, potential participants with an ABI \>0.90 who have vascular laboratory evidence of PAD. Vascular laboratory evidence consists of objective evidence of PAD, including toe brachial index (TBI) \< or = 0.70, Duplex measure showing 70% stenosis or greater, or ABI values \< 0.90. Abnormal waveforms or pulse volume recordings alone from a non-invasive vascular laboratory test will not be sufficient for enrollment. Third, potential participants with an ABI \>0.90 who have angiographic evidence of PAD consisting of a stenosis of 70% or greater in a lower extremity artery.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Above- or below-knee amputation.
2. Critical limb ischemia or ABI \< 0.30 in the setting of ischemic symptoms at rest or physical examination findings consistent with critical limb ischemia. Some potential participants with symptoms or signs of critical limb ischemia may be excluded at the principal investigator's discretion if the ABI is 0.30 or higher.
3. Wheelchair-bound.
4. Current foot ulcer on bottom of foot.
5. Walking is primarily limited by a symptom other than PAD.
6. Failure to successfully complete the study run-in.
7. Major surgery, revascularization, or orthopedic surgery in the past 3 months or planned in the next 12 months.
8. Major medical illness including Parkinson's Disease, lung disease requiring oxygen, cancer requiring treatment in the previous two years, or life-threatening illness with a life expectancy of less than six months. Participants who only use oxygen at night will be potentially eligible. \[NOTE: potential participants treated for cancer in the past two years may still qualify if they have had treatment for early stage cancer in the past two years and the prognosis is excellent. Potential participants treated for basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer will not be excluded.\]
9. Already exercising at a level consistent with exercise intervention. Current or recent participation in exercise rehabilitation (within the past three months).
10. Recently diagnosed (within the past three months) with acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or severe heart failure (i.e. New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV).
11. Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score \<23 or dementia.
12. Participation in or completion of a clinical trial in the previous three months.
13. Non-English speaking.
14. Increase in angina in the past month, angina at rest, or abnormal baseline treadmill stress test. Potential participants may become eligible after an abnormal baseline treadmill stress test if they have evidence of an absence of coronary ischemia based on testing (such as a stress test with imaging or a coronary angiogram) from a test performed with their own physician and if they do not have symptoms of unstable angina. The evidence of absent coronary ischemia, based on an imaging stress test or coronary angiogram, must have been performed within the previous year.
15. Ongoing infection of the toes, foot, or lower extremity.
16. Potential participants who started on cilostazol within the last three months. They may be evaluated for eligibility once three months have passed since beginning cilostazol.
17. Significant peripheral edema, defined as 3+ or greater edema severity, as determined by the principal investigator.
18. BMI \>45 kg/M2
19. Significant visual impairment that interferes with walking.
20. In addition to the above criteria, investigator discretion will be used to determine if the trial is unsafe or not a good fit for the potential participant.
Minimum Eligible Age

55 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Northwestern University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Mary McDermott

Professor of Medicine

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Mary McDermott, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Northwestern Universtiy

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Henry Ford Health

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Kathryn Domanchuk, BS

Role: CONTACT

312-503-6438

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Mary McDermott, MD

Role: primary

312-503-6419

Tamar Polonsky, MD

Role: primary

773-702-6153

Jonathan Ehrman, PhD

Role: primary

313-972-4089

Diane Treat-Jacobson, PhD

Role: primary

612-624-7613

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Nayak P, Polonsky T, Tian L, Greenland P, Xu S, Zhang D, Zhao L, Criqui MH, Kibbe MR, Gladders B, Goodney P, Ho K, Guralnik JM, McDermott MM. Medical therapies, comorbid conditions, and functional performance in people with peripheral artery disease enrolled in clinical trials between 2004 and 2021. Vasc Med. 2023 Apr;28(2):144-146. doi: 10.1177/1358863X221145533. Epub 2023 Jan 1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36588397 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

1R01AG057693-01A1

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

STU00208245

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.