[Prevalence of an abnormal ankle-brachial index in relation to the cardiovascular risk estimated by the Framingham function].
OBJECTIVE
The measurement of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a straightforward method for the detection of atherosclerosis in the lower limbs. An abnormal ABI (< 0.9 or > 1.4) is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Despite this, its measurement in clinical practice is underused. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relation of the ABI with the cardiovascular risk determined by traditional risk functions in a population in primary prevention.


METHODS
1001 subjects without known cardiovascular disease attended in primary care were invited to participate in the study. Cardiovascular risk and ABI measurements were calculated in all participants.


RESULTS
A low (< 0.9) ABI was found in a 3.8% of the participants, 3.9% females and 3.6% males. An abnormal ABI (< 0.9 or > 1.4) was found in 6.4% of all subjects, 5.2% females and 8.8% males. In a multivariable analysis age (OR = 1.09 for each year; 95% CI 1.03-1.15), smoking habit (OR = 2.96; 95% CI 1.51-5.80), HDL-cholesterol levels (OR = 0.98 for each mg/dl; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99) and hypertension (OR = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.05-3.06) were related with an abnormal ABI. Subjects were divided according to their risk stratification. The percentage of low, moderate and high risk individuals with an abnormal ABI was 2.6%, 8.7% and 14.9% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In primary prevention, one in ten individuals with moderate risk and one in six individuals with high risk have an abnormal ABI. In these subjects there is an indication for intensive preventive strategies and antiagregation.
Vicente
Ignacio
I
Centro de Salud de Fuencarral, Madrid, Spain.
Lahoz
Carlos
C
Taboada
Manuel
M
García
Angel
A
San Martín
Miguel Angel
MA
Terol
Ignacio
I
Laguna
Fernando
F
García-Iglesias
Francisca
F
Mostaza
José María
JM
D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle / Q000098:blood supply; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D001916:Brachial Artery; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment