A high ankle-brachial index is associated with increased cardiovascular disease morbidity and lower quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to determine if an ankle-brachial index (ABI) >or=1.40 is associated with reduced quality of life (QoL).


BACKGROUND
Ankle-brachial index values >or=1.40 have been associated with some cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and increased mortality, but the relationship to other disease morbidity such as reduced QoL has not been previously evaluated.


METHODS
The PARTNERS (PAD Awareness, Risk and Treatment: New Resources for Survival) program was a national cross-sectional study of 7,155 patients age >50 years recruited from 350 primary care sites. All sites performed the ABI using a Doppler device and a standardized technique.


RESULTS
A total of 296 subjects had an ABI >or=1.40 in at least 1 leg, and 4,420 had an ABI between 0.90 and 1.40. Diabetes, male gender, and waist circumference were positively associated with a high ABI, and smoking and dyslipidemia were inversely associated with a high ABI. After adjustment for age, gender, and the traditional CVD risk factors, and accounting for multiple comparisons, the high ABI group had significantly higher odds for foot ulcers (p < 0.005) and borderline associations with heart failure, stroke, and neuropathy. After the same adjustments and adjusting for patients with other CVD, the high ABI group scored 2.0 points lower on the physical component scale on the Medical Outcomes Study Standard Form-36 and 5.5 points lower on the Walking Impairment Questionnaire walking distance domain (p < 0.05 for both).


CONCLUSIONS
Individuals with a high ABI have higher odds for foot ulcers and neuropathy, as well as lower scores on some physical functioning QoL domains.
Allison
Matthew A
MA
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, California, USA. mallison@ucsd.edu
Hiatt
William R
WR
Hirsch
Alan T
AT
Coll
Joseph R
JR
Criqui
Michael H
MH
D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle / Q000098:blood supply*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life