Scolaris Content Display Scolaris Content Display

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Revascularización endovascular versus tratamiento conservador para la claudicación intermitente

Información

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010512.pub2Copiar DOI
Base de datos:
  1. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Versión publicada:
  1. 08 marzo 2018see what's new
Tipo:
  1. Intervention
Etapa:
  1. Review
Grupo Editorial Cochrane:
  1. Grupo Cochrane de Vascular

Copyright:
  1. Copyright © 2018 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cifras del artículo

Altmetric:

Citado por:

Citado 0 veces por enlace Crossref Cited-by

Contraer

Autores

  • Farzin Fakhry

    Correspondencia a: Departments of Epidemiology & Radiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    [email protected]

    [email protected]

  • Hugo JP Fokkenrood

    Department of Vascular Surgery, Rijnstate, Arnhem, Netherlands

  • Sandra Spronk

    Departments of Epidemiology & Radiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Department of Research and Innovation, Dutch Health Care Inspectorate, Utrecht, Netherlands

  • Joep AW Teijink

    Department of Vascular Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, Netherlands

  • Ellen V Rouwet

    Department of Vascular Surgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

  • M G Myriam Hunink

    Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Contributions of authors

FF: wrote the protocol; selected relevant studies, assessed methodological quality of included studies, extracted and analysed data, and wrote the review.
HF: contributed to the protocol; selected relevant studies, assessed methodological quality of included studies, extracted data, and contributed to the text of the review.
ER: contributed to the text of the review.
JT: contributed to the text of the review.
SS: contributed to the text of the review.
MH: resolved disagreements regarding inclusion of studies and contributed to the text of the review.

Sources of support

Internal sources

  • No sources of support supplied

External sources

  • Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government Health Directorates, The Scottish Government, UK.

    The Cochrane Vascular editorial base is supported by the Chief Scientist Office.

  • National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), UK.

    This project was supported by the NIHR, via Cochrane Programme Grant funding to Cochrane Vascular (10/4001/14). The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the review authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Systematic Reviews Programme, NIHR, NHS, or the Department. of Health.

Declarations of interest

FF: none known.
HF: none known.
ER: none known.
JT: none known: Chairman ClaudicatioNet: ClaudicatioNet (a not‐for‐profit organisation) is an integrated care network that brings together patients, physiotherapists, family physicians, and vascular surgeons. ClaudicatioNet aims for transparent and high‐quality care for all patients with peripheral vascular disease in the Netherlands.
SS: none known.
MH: MH's institution has received funding from ZonMW, Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, National Institutes of Health, and Stichting Technische Wetenschappen for MH's research projects not related to this review. MH also reports receiving royalties from Cambridge University Press for the textbook, "Decision Making in Health and Medicine," and travel/meeting expenses from the 2010 and 2011 Clinical Update on Cardiac CT and MRI 2010 meetings, the 2011 International Society for Strategic Studies in Radiology (ISSSR) meeting, the 2012 ESR Referral Guidelines for Imaging Workshop, and the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research Scientific Advisory Board meetings.

To avoid potential bias regarding inclusion, one review author (HF) from this systematic review who was not involved in these studies independently performed study selection, data extraction and methodological quality assessment for two studies (Fakhry 2015; Spronk 2009).

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Dr. Karen Welch, who searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

Version history

Published

Title

Stage

Authors

Version

2018 Mar 08

Endovascular revascularisation versus conservative management for intermittent claudication

Review

Farzin Fakhry, Hugo JP Fokkenrood, Sandra Spronk, Joep AW Teijink, Ellen V Rouwet, M G Myriam Hunink

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010512.pub2

2013 May 31

Endovascular revascularisation versus conservative management for intermittent claudication

Protocol

Farzin Fakhry, Hugo JP Fokkenrood, Ellen V Rouwet, Joep AW Teijink, Sandra Spronk, M G Myriam Hunink

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010512

Differences between protocol and review

Since the time our protocol was published, we decided to use standardised mean difference (SMD) as treatment effect to account for the large variation in intensity of the treadmill protocols used to assess walking distances, instead of simulated metabolic equivalents (METS), as proposed in the protocol. We made this change because SMD could also be used to pool disease‐specific quality of life data (measured by different instruments) and because with SMD, no potential bias could be introduced through simulation of data, which would have been inevitable if we had used METS to assess treatment effect.

Keywords

MeSH

PICO

Population
Intervention
Comparison
Outcome

El uso y la enseñanza del modelo PICO están muy extendidos en el ámbito de la atención sanitaria basada en la evidencia para formular preguntas y estrategias de búsqueda y para caracterizar estudios o metanálisis clínicos. PICO son las siglas en inglés de cuatro posibles componentes de una pregunta de investigación: paciente, población o problema; intervención; comparación; desenlace (outcome).

Para saber más sobre el uso del modelo PICO, puede consultar el Manual Cochrane.

Study flow diagram.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 1

Study flow diagram.

Risk of bias graph: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item presented as percentages across all included studies.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 2

Risk of bias graph: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item presented as percentages across all included studies.

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 3

Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.

Health‐related quality of life (mean differences between groups).
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 4

Health‐related quality of life (mean differences between groups).

Health‐related quality of life (mean differences between groups).A: Femoropoliteal trial.
 B: Aortoiliac trial.1 In this study, the comparison was endovascular revascularisation plus supervised exercise versus supervised exercise.
 2 In this study, the comparison was endovascular revascularisation plus pharmacotherapy with cilostazol versus cilostazol.
Figuras y tablas -
Figure 5

Health‐related quality of life (mean differences between groups).

A: Femoropoliteal trial.
B: Aortoiliac trial.

1 In this study, the comparison was endovascular revascularisation plus supervised exercise versus supervised exercise.
2 In this study, the comparison was endovascular revascularisation plus pharmacotherapy with cilostazol versus cilostazol.

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 1 Maximum walking distance.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.1

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 1 Maximum walking distance.

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 2 Maximum walking distance (long‐term).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.2

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 2 Maximum walking distance (long‐term).

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 3 Pain‐free walking distance.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.3

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 3 Pain‐free walking distance.

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 4 Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.4

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 4 Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term).

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 5 Secondary invasive interventions.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.5

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 5 Secondary invasive interventions.

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 6 Mortality.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 1.6

Comparison 1 Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise, Outcome 6 Mortality.

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 1 Maximum walking distance.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.1

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 1 Maximum walking distance.

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 2 Maximum walking distance (long‐term).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.2

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 2 Maximum walking distance (long‐term).

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 3 Pain‐free walking distance.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.3

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 3 Pain‐free walking distance.

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 4 Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.4

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 4 Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term).

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 5 Secondary invasive interventions.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.5

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 5 Secondary invasive interventions.

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 6 Quality of life (disease‐specific).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.6

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 6 Quality of life (disease‐specific).

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 7 Mortality.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.7

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 7 Mortality.

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 8 Sensitivity analysis: maximum walking distance.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.8

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 8 Sensitivity analysis: maximum walking distance.

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 9 Sensitivity analysis: pain‐free walking distance.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 2.9

Comparison 2 Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise, Outcome 9 Sensitivity analysis: pain‐free walking distance.

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 1 Maximum walking distance.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.1

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 1 Maximum walking distance.

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 2 Maximum walking distance (long‐term).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.2

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 2 Maximum walking distance (long‐term).

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 3 Pain‐free walking distance.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.3

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 3 Pain‐free walking distance.

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 4 Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.4

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 4 Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term).

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 5 Secondary invasive interventions.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.5

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 5 Secondary invasive interventions.

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 6 Quality of life (disease‐specific).
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.6

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 6 Quality of life (disease‐specific).

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 7 Mortality.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.7

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 7 Mortality.

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 8 Sensitivity analysis: maximum walking distance.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.8

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 8 Sensitivity analysis: maximum walking distance.

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 9 Sensitivity analysis: pain‐free walking distance.
Figuras y tablas -
Analysis 3.9

Comparison 3 Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy, Outcome 9 Sensitivity analysis: pain‐free walking distance.

Summary of findings for the main comparison. Endovascular revascularisation compared with no specific therapy for intermittent claudication except verbal advice to exercise

Endovascular revascularisation compared with no specific therapy for intermittent claudication except verbal advice to exercise

Patient or population: intermittent claudication
Setting: hospital
Intervention: endovascular revascularisation
Comparison: no specific therapy1

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No. of participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Risk with no specific therapy

Risk with endovascular revascularisation

Maximum walking distance

Mean maximum walking distance in the intervention group was 0.70 standard deviations higher (0.31 higher to 1.08 higher).

125
(3 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE 2,3

Maximum walking distance (long‐term)

Mean maximum walking distance at long term in the intervention group was 0.67 standard deviations higher (0.30 lower to 1.63 higher).

103
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW 3,4,5

Pain‐free walking distance

Mean pain‐free walking distance in the intervention group was 1.29 standard deviations higher (0.90 higher to 1.68 higher).

125
(3 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE 2,3

Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term)

Mean pain‐free walking distance at long term in the intervention group was 0.69 standard deviations higher (0.45 lower to 1.82 higher).

103
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW 3,4,5

Secondary invasive interventions

Study population

OR 0.81
(0.12 to 5.28)

118
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE 3,4

83 per 1000

69 per 1000
(11 to 324)

Quality of life (disease‐specific)

See comments.

See comments.

One study reported no significant differences in disease‐specific QoL between study groups after 2 years without providing data

*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). Pooled standardised mean differences were interpreted using rules of thumb (< 0.40 = small, 0.40 to 0.70 = moderate, > 0.70 = large effect) as described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Higgins 2011).
CI: confidence interval; OR: odds ratio; QoL: quality of life; RCT: randomised controlled trial.

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence.
High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

1 Treatment consisted of cardiovascular risk factor management and only verbal exercise advice without any form of supervision.
2 In two studies, risk of bias on three or more domains judged as "unclear"; therefore quality of the evidence downgraded one level.
3 The possibility of publication bias could not be ruled out, yet we did not consider it sufficient to downgrade the quality of the evidence.
4 Small sample size with wide confidence interval for treatment effect; therefore quality of the evidence downgraded one level.
5 Evidence of inconsistency due to substantial heterogeneity between studies; therefore quality of the evidence downgraded one level.

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings for the main comparison. Endovascular revascularisation compared with no specific therapy for intermittent claudication except verbal advice to exercise
Summary of findings 2. Endovascular revascularisation compared with conservative therapy for intermittent claudication

Endovascular revascularisation compared with conservative therapy for intermittent claudication

Patient or population: intermittent claudication
Setting: hospital
Intervention: endovascular revascularisation
Comparison: conservative therapy (i.e. supervised exercise)1

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No. of participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Risk with conservative therapy

Risk with endovascular revascularisation

Maximum walking distance

Mean maximum walking distance in the intervention group was 0.42 standard deviations lower (0.87 lower to 0.04 higher).

345
(5 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE 2,3

Maximum walking distance (long‐term)

Mean maximum walking distance at long term in the intervention group was 0.02 standard deviations lower (0.36 lower to 0.32 higher).

184
(3 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE 3,4

Pain‐free walking distance

Mean pain‐free walking distance in the intervention group was 0.05 standard deviations lower (0.38 lower to 0.29 higher).

345
(5 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE 2,3

Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term)

Mean pain‐free walking distance at long term in the intervention group was 0.11 standard deviations higher (0.26 lower to 0.48 higher).

147
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE 3,5

Secondary invasive interventions

Study population

OR 1.40
(0.7 to 2.8)

395
(4 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH 3

82 per 1000

112 per 1000
(59 to 201)

Quality of life (disease‐specific)

Mean quality of life (disease‐specific) in the intervention group was 0.18 standard deviations higher (0.04 lower to 0.41 higher).

301
(3 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH 3

*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). Pooled standardised mean differences were interpreted using rules of thumb (< 0.40 = small, 0.40 to 0.70 = moderate, > 0.70 = large effect), as described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Higgins 2011).
CI: confidence interval; OR: odds ratio; RCT: randomised controlled trial.

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence.
High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

1 Supervised exercise consisted of only supervised exercise in four studies and a combination of supervised exercise and pharmacotherapy with cilostazol in one study.
2 Evidence of inconsistency due to substantial heterogeneity between studies; therefore quality of the evidence downgraded one level.
3 The possibility of publication bias could not be ruled out, yet we did not consider it sufficient to downgrade the quality of the evidence.
4 In one of three studies, risk of attrition bias judged as "high"; therefore quality of the evidence downgraded one level.
5 Small sample size with wide confidence interval for treatment effect; therefore quality of the evidence downgraded one level.

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings 2. Endovascular revascularisation compared with conservative therapy for intermittent claudication
Summary of findings 3. Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy compared with conservative therapy alone for intermittent claudication

Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy compared with conservative therapy alone for intermittent claudication

Patient or population: intermittent claudication
Setting: hospital
Intervention: endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy (supervised exercise or pharmacotherapy with cilostazol)
Comparison: conservative therapy (supervised exercise or pharmacotherapy with cilostazol)1

Outcomes

Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)

Relative effect
(95% CI)

No. of participants
(studies)

Quality of the evidence
(GRADE)

Comments

Risk with conservative therapy

Risk with endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy

Conservative therapy consists of supervised exercise

Maximum walking distance

Mean maximum walking distance in the intervention group was 0.26 standard deviations higher (0.13 lower to 0.64 higher).

432
(3 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE 2,3

Maximum walking distance (long‐term)

Mean maximum walking distance at long term in the intervention group was 1.18 standard deviations higher (0.65 higher to 1.70 higher).

106
(1 RCT)

⊕⊕⊝⊝
LOW 2,4,5

Pain‐free walking distance

Mean pain‐free walking distance in the intervention group was 0.33 standard deviations higher (0.26 lower to 0.93 higher).

305
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE 2,3

Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term)

See comments.

See comments.

None of the studies reported any quantitative data on pain‐free walking distance at long term

Secondary invasive interventions

Study population

OR 0.27
(0.13 to 0.55)

457
(3 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH2

164 per 1000

50 per 1000
(25 to 97)

Quality of life (disease‐specific)

Mean quality of life (disease‐specific) in the intervention group was 0.25 standard deviations higher (0.05 lower to 0.56 higher).

330
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊝
MODERATE 2,3

Conservative therapy consists of pharmacotherapy (cilostazol)

Maximum walking distance

Mean maximum walking distance in the intervention group was 0.38 standard deviations higher (0.08 higher to 0.68 higher).

186
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH 2

Maximum walking distance (long‐term)

Mean maximum walking distance at long term in the intervention group was 0.72 standard deviations higher (0.09 higher to 1.36 higher).

47
(1 RCT)

See comments.

Only 1 small RCT included in this analysis, no meaningful grading of quality of evidence possible

Pain‐free walking distance

Mean pain‐free walking distance in the intervention group was 0.63 standard deviations higher (0.33 higher to 0.94 higher).

186
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH 2

Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term)

Mean pain‐free walking distance at long‐term in the intervention group was 0.54 standard deviations higher (0.08 lower to 1.17 higher).

47
(1 RCT)

See comments.

Only one small RCT included in this analysis, no meaningful grading of quality of evidence possible

Secondary invasive interventions

Study population

OR 1.83
(0.49 to 6.83)

199
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH 2

69 per 1000

120 per 1000
(35 to 337)

Quality of life (disease‐specific)

Mean quality of life (disease‐specific) in the intervention group was 0.59 standard deviations higher (0.27 higher to 0.91 higher).

170
(2 RCTs)

⊕⊕⊕⊕
HIGH 2

*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). Pooled standardised mean differences were interpreted using rules of thumb (< 0.40 = small, 0.40 to 0.70 = moderate, > 0.70 = large effect), as described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Higgins 2011).
CI: confidence interval; OR: odds ratio; RCT: randomised controlled trial.

GRADE Working Group grades of evidence.
High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect.
Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different.
Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect.
Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

1 Conservative therapy consisted of supervised exercise in three studies and of pharmacotherapy with cilostazol and only advice to exercise in two studies.
2 The possibility of publication bias could not be ruled out, yet we did not consider it sufficient to downgrade the quality of the evidence.
3 Evidence of inconsistency due to substantial heterogeneity between studies; therefore quality of the evidence downgraded one level.
4 Small sample size with wide confidence interval for treatment effect; therefore quality of the evidence downgraded one level.
5 In this study risk of bias on three domains judged as "unclear"; therefore quality of the evidence downgraded one level.

Figuras y tablas -
Summary of findings 3. Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy compared with conservative therapy alone for intermittent claudication
Table 1. Minor complications following endovascular revascularisation

Study

Groin haematoma

Artery dissection

Creasy 1990

3/20

1/20

Fakhry 2015

5/106

2/106

Greenhalgh 2008

8/67

1/67

Murphy 2015

nr

2/46

Nordanstig 2014

1/52

nr

Spronk 2009

6/75

1/75

nr: not reported.

Figuras y tablas -
Table 1. Minor complications following endovascular revascularisation
Comparison 1. Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Maximum walking distance Show forest plot

3

125

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.70 [0.31, 1.08]

2 Maximum walking distance (long‐term) Show forest plot

2

103

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.67 [‐0.30, 1.63]

3 Pain‐free walking distance Show forest plot

3

125

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

1.29 [0.90, 1.68]

4 Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term) Show forest plot

2

103

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.69 [‐0.45, 1.82]

5 Secondary invasive interventions Show forest plot

2

118

Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.81 [0.12, 5.28]

6 Mortality Show forest plot

3

136

Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.75 [0.13, 4.44]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 1. Endovascular revascularisation versus no specific therapy except verbal advice to exercise
Comparison 2. Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Maximum walking distance Show forest plot

5

345

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

‐0.42 [‐0.87, 0.04]

2 Maximum walking distance (long‐term) Show forest plot

3

184

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

‐0.02 [‐0.36, 0.32]

3 Pain‐free walking distance Show forest plot

5

345

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

‐0.05 [‐0.38, 0.29]

4 Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term) Show forest plot

2

147

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.11 [‐0.26, 0.48]

5 Secondary invasive interventions Show forest plot

4

395

Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.40 [0.70, 2.80]

6 Quality of life (disease‐specific) Show forest plot

3

301

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.18 [‐0.04, 0.41]

7 Mortality Show forest plot

5

435

Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.84 [0.35, 2.00]

8 Sensitivity analysis: maximum walking distance Show forest plot

3

232

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

‐0.52 [‐0.98, ‐0.07]

9 Sensitivity analysis: pain‐free walking distance Show forest plot

3

232

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

‐0.11 [‐0.46, 0.23]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 2. Endovasular revascularisation versus conservative therapy in form of supervised exercise
Comparison 3. Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy

Outcome or subgroup title

No. of studies

No. of participants

Statistical method

Effect size

1 Maximum walking distance Show forest plot

5

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

Subtotals only

1.1 Supervised exercise therapy

3

432

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.26 [‐0.13, 0.64]

1.2 Pharmacotherapy

2

186

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.38 [0.08, 0.68]

2 Maximum walking distance (long‐term) Show forest plot

2

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

Subtotals only

2.1 Supervised exercise therapy

1

106

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

1.18 [0.65, 1.70]

2.2 Pharmacotherapy

1

47

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.72 [0.09, 1.36]

3 Pain‐free walking distance Show forest plot

4

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

Subtotals only

3.1 Supervised exercise therapy

2

305

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.33 [‐0.26, 0.93]

3.2 Pharmacotherapy

2

186

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.63 [0.33, 0.94]

4 Pain‐free walking distance (long‐term) Show forest plot

1

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

Subtotals only

4.1 Pharmacotherapy

1

47

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.54 [‐0.08, 1.17]

5 Secondary invasive interventions Show forest plot

5

Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

Subtotals only

5.1 Supervised exercise therapy

3

457

Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.27 [0.13, 0.55]

5.2 Pharmacotherapy

2

199

Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.83 [0.49, 6.83]

6 Quality of life (disease‐specific) Show forest plot

4

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

Subtotals only

6.1 Supervised exercise therapy

2

330

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.25 [‐0.05, 0.56]

6.2 Pharmacotherapy

2

170

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.59 [0.27, 0.91]

7 Mortality Show forest plot

5

Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

Subtotals only

7.1 Supervised exercise therapy

3

457

Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

0.67 [0.20, 2.21]

7.2 Pharmacotherapy

2

201

Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)

1.30 [0.14, 11.92]

8 Sensitivity analysis: maximum walking distance Show forest plot

4

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

Subtotals only

8.1 Supervised exercise therapy

2

339

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.43 [0.21, 0.65]

8.2 Pharmacotherapy

2

186

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.38 [0.08, 0.68]

9 Sensitivity analysis: pain‐free walking distance Show forest plot

3

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

Subtotals only

9.1 Supervised exercise therapy

1

212

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.62 [0.34, 0.89]

9.2 Pharmacotherapy

2

186

Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)

0.63 [0.33, 0.94]

Figuras y tablas -
Comparison 3. Endovascular revascularisation plus conservative therapy versus conservative therapy