BackgroundPeople with severe mental ill health are more likely to smoke than those in the general population. It is therefore important that effective smoking cessation strategies are used to help people with severe mental ill health to stop smoking. This study aims to assess the effectiveness and cost –effectiveness of smoking cessation and reduction strategies in adults with severe mental ill health in both inpatient and outpatient settings.MethodsThis is an update of a previous systematic review. Electronic databases were searched during September 2016 for randomised controlled trials comparing smoking cessation interventions to each other, usual care, or placebo. Data was extracted on biochemically-verified, self-reported smoking cessation (primary outcome), as well as on smoking reduction, body weight, psychiatric symptom, and adverse events (secondary outcomes).ResultsWe included 26 trials of pharmacological and/or behavioural interventions. Eight trials comparing bupropion to placebo were pooled showing that bupropion improved quit rates significantly in the medium and long term but not the short term (short term RR = 6.42 95% CI 0.82–50.07; medium term RR = 2.93 95% CI 1.61–5.34; long term RR = 3.04 95% CI 1.10–8.42). Five trials comparing varenicline to placebo showed that that the addition of varenicline improved quit rates significantly in the medium term (RR = 4.13 95% CI 1.36–12.53). The results from five trials of specialised smoking cessation programmes were pooled and showed no evidence of benefit in the medium (RR = 1.32 95% CI 0.85–2.06) or long term (RR = 1.33 95% CI 0.85–2.08). There was insufficient data to allowing pooling for all time points for varenicline and trials of specialist smoking cessation programmes. Trials suggest few adverse events although safety data were not always reported. Only one pilot study reported cost effectiveness data.ConclusionsBupropion and varenicline, which have been shown to be effective in the general population, also work for people with severe mental ill health and their use in patients with stable psychiatric conditions. Despite good evidence for the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions for people with severe mental ill health, the percentage of people with severe mental ill health who smoke remains higher than that for the general population.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1419-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundThis study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of two common types of exercise training—high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT)—in adults with Crohn’s disease (CD).MethodsIn this mixed-methods pilot trial, participants with quiescent or mildly-active CD were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to HIIT, MICT or usual care control, and followed up for 6 months. The HIIT and MICT groups were offered three exercise sessions per week for the first 12 weeks. Feasibility outcomes included rates of recruitment, retention, outcome completion, and exercise attendance. Data were collected on cardiorespiratory fitness (e.g., peak oxygen uptake), disease activity, fatigue, quality of life, adverse events, and intervention acceptability (via interviews).ResultsOver 17 months, 53 patients were assessed for eligibility and 36 (68%) were randomised (47% male; mean age 36.9 [SD 11.2] years); 13 to HIIT, 12 to MICT, and 11 to control. The exercise session attendance rate was 62% for HIIT (288/465) and 75% for MICT (320/429), with 62% of HIIT participants (8/13) and 67% of MICT participants (8/12) completing at least 24 of 36 sessions. One participant was lost to follow-up. Outcome completion rates ranged from 89 to 97%. The mean increase in peak oxygen uptake, relative to control, was greater following HIIT than MICT (2.4 vs. 0.7 mL/kg/min). There were three non-serious exercise-related adverse events, and two exercise participants experienced disease relapse during follow-up.ConclusionsThe findings support the feasibility and acceptability of the exercise programmes and trial procedures. A definitive trial is warranted. Physical exercise remains a potentially useful adjunct therapy in CD. [ID: ISRCTN13021107].Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12876-019-0936-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

SummaryBackgroundVenous leg ulcers (VLUs) are typically painful and heal slowly. Compression therapy offers high healing rates; however, improvements are not usually sustained. Exercise is a low‐cost, low‐risk and effective strategy for improving physical and mental health. Little is known about the feasibility and efficacy of supervised exercise training used in combination with compression therapy patients with VLUs.ObjectivesTo assess the feasibility of a 12‐week supervised exercise programme as an adjunct therapy to compression in patients with VLUs.MethodsThis was a two‐centre, two‐arm, parallel‐group, randomized feasibility trial. Thirty‐nine patients with venous ulcers were recruited and randomized 1 : 1 either to exercise (three sessions weekly) plus compression therapy or compression only. Progress/success criteria included exercise attendance rate, loss to follow‐up and patient preference. Baseline assessments were repeated at 12 weeks, 6 months and 1 year, with healing rate and time, ulcer recurrence and infection incidents documented. Intervention and healthcare utilization costs were calculated. Qualitative data were collected to assess participants’ experiences.ResultsSeventy‐two per cent of the exercise group participants attended all scheduled exercise sessions. No serious adverse events and only two exercise‐related adverse events (both increased ulcer discharge) were reported. Loss to follow‐up was 5%. At 12 months, median ulcer healing time was lower in the exercise group (13 vs. 34·7 weeks). Mean National Health Service costs were £813·27 for the exercise and £2298·57 for the control group.ConclusionsThe feasibility and acceptability of both the supervised exercise programme in conjunction with compression therapy and the study procedures is supported.

Summary Background Crohn's disease (CD) is a predisposing factor for bone loss and muscle dysfunction, which could lead to osteoporotic fractures and physical disability, respectively. Aim To assess the effect of 6 months of combined impact and resistance training on bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle function in adults with CD. Methods In this randomised controlled trial, 47 adults with stable CD were assigned to exercise (n = 23) or control (n = 24) groups and followed up for 6 months. The exercise group received usual care plus a 6‐month combined impact and resistance training programme, involving three, 60‐minute sessions per week and a gradual tapering of supervision to self‐management. The control group received usual care alone. The primary outcomes were BMD (via dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry) and muscle function (measures of upper and lower limb strength and endurance) at 6 months. Results At 6 months, BMD values were superior in the exercise group with statistical significance at lumbar spine (adjusted mean difference 0.036 g/cm2, 95% CI 0.024‐0.048; P < 0.001), but not at femoral neck (0.018 g/cm2, 0.001‐0.035; P = 0.059) or greater trochanter (0.013 g/cm2, −0.019 to 0.045; P = 0.415) after correcting for multiple outcomes. The exercise group also had superior values for all muscle function outcomes (P < 0.001; unadjusted mean differences ranging 22.6‒48.2%), and lower fatigue severity (P = 0.005). Three exercise‐related adverse events were recorded: two instances of light‐headedness and one of nausea. Conclusions The intervention improved BMD and muscle function in adults with CD and appears as a suitable model of exercise for reducing future risk of osteoporotic fractures and disability. Trial registration: ISRCTN11470370.

Arm cranking is a useful alternative exercise modality for improving walking performance in patients with intermittent claudication; however, the mechanisms of such an improvement are poorly understood. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of arm-crank exercise training on lower-limb O2 delivery in patients with intermittent claudication. A total of 57 patients with intermittent claudication (age, 70+/-8 years; mean+/-S.D.) were randomized to an arm-crank exercise group or a non-exercise control group. The exercise group trained twice weekly for 12 weeks. At baseline and 12 weeks, patients completed incremental tests to maximum exercise tolerance on both an arm-crank ergometer and a treadmill. Respiratory variables were measured breath-by-breath to determine peak VO2 (O2 uptake) and ventilatory threshold. Near-IR spectroscopy was used in the treadmill test to determine changes in calf muscle StO2 (tissue O2 saturation). Patients also completed a square-wave treadmill-walking protocol to determine VO2 kinetics. A total of 51 patients completed the study. In the exercise group, higher maximum walking distances (from 496+/-250 to 661+/-324 m) and peak VO2 values (from 17.2+/-2.7 to 18.2+/-3.4 ml.kg-1 of body mass.min-1) were recorded in the incremental treadmill test (P<0.05). After training, there was also an increase in time to minimum StO2 (from 268+/-305 s to 410+/-366 s), a speeding of VO2 kinetics (from 44.7+/-10.4 to 41.3+/-14.4 s) and an increase in submaximal StO2 during treadmill walking (P<0.05). There were no significant changes in the control group. The results suggest that the improvement in walking performance after arm-crank exercise training in patients with intermittent claudication is attributable, at least in part, to improved lower-limb O2 delivery.

Background:Treatment of prostate cancer with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is associated with metabolic changes that have been linked to an increase in cardiovascular risk.Methods:This randomised controlled trial investigated the effects of a 12-week lifestyle intervention that included supervised exercise training and dietary advice on markers of cardiovascular risk in 50 men on long-term ADT recruited to an on-going study investigating the effects of such a lifestyle intervention on quality of life. Participants were randomly allocated to receive the intervention or usual care. Cardiovascular outcomes included endothelial function (flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery), blood pressure, body composition and serum lipids. Additional outcomes included treadmill walk time and exercise and dietary behaviours. Outcomes were assessed before randomisation (baseline), and 6, 12 and 24 weeks after randomisation.Results:At 12 weeks, the difference in mean relative FMD was 2.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1–4.3, P=0.04) with an effect size of 0.60 (95% CI <0.01–1.18) favouring the intervention group. Improvements in skeletal muscle mass, treadmill walk time and exercise behaviour also occurred in the intervention group over that duration (P<0.05). At 24 weeks, only the difference in treadmill walk time was maintained.Conclusions:This study demonstrates that lifestyle changes can improve endothelial function in men on long-term ADT for prostate cancer. The implications for cardiovascular health need further investigation in larger studies over longer duration.

SummaryDespite calls for the routine implementation of pre-operative exercise programmes to optimise patient fitness before elective major surgery, there is no practical guidance for providing safe and effective exercise in this specific context. The following clinical guideline was developed following a review of the evidence on the effects of pre-operative exercise interventions. We developed a series of best-practice and, where possible, evidence-based statements to advise on patient care with respect to exercise training in the peri-operative period. These statements cover: patient selection for exercise training in surgical patients; integration of exercise training into multi-modal prehabilitation programmes; and advice on exercise prescription factors and follow-up. Although we acknowledge that further research is needed to identify the optimal exercise prescription in different clinical scenarios, we urge peri-operative teams to make use of these recommendations. Summary of key recommendations1 Pre-operative exercise training should be offered to patients scheduled for major or complex elective surgery with a view to improving their physical fitness and health status and reducing the risk of peri-operative morbidity and mortality. If resources are limited, priority of referral to preoperative exercise training should go to patients who are at increased risk of peri-operative complications, such as those with low cardiorespiratory fitness.2 Pre-operative exercise training should be offered as part of a multi-modal prehabilitation programme that addresses a variety of peri-operative risk factors including cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and anaemia. 3 Healthcare professionals making referrals to a preoperative exercise programme should have basic knowledge about what the programme entails and its potential effects. A pre-operative exercise programme should be presented to the patient by the referring clinician as a fundamental part of their 750

ISRCTN06733130 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).