Ankle brachial index as a predictor of generalized atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess ankle brachial index (ABI) as a screening method to target subclinical atherosclerosis in middle aged individuals.


METHODS
Total 160 patients over the age of 40 years were included in the study for a period of 16 months. Their ABI was determined either by colour Doppler method (30 patients) and/or sphygmomanometry (all 160 patients). A value of < 0.9 was taken as cutoff point for significant stenosis.


RESULTS
Total 69 patients out of total of 160 had significantly low ABI value (43.12%) which shows that there is a very high incidence of low ABI in the community. Overall > 50% of the patients were largely asymptomatic and had presence of two or more risk factors. ABI < 0.9 was a good screening test to detect such individuals at an earlier stage (sub-clinical).


CONCLUSIONS
A significantly low (< 0.9) ABI value can detect subclinical atherosclerotic vascular involvement and predict future occurrence of preventable major vascular event.
Raman
P G
PG
Department of Medicine, MGM Medical College and MY Hospitals, Indore.
Thakur
B S
BS
Mathew
V
V
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle / Q000098:blood supply*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color