[Ankle-brachial index testing is particularly indicated in patients with metabolic syndrome but without known arterial disease].
BACKGROUND
The objective was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), its cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and its association with peripheral arterial disease, defined by a low ankle-brachial index (ABI) (< 0.90), in primary prevention.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study performed in the primary care general population, aged 50-79 years. CVD risk and ABI were measured in persons without known arterial disease with MetS and in a control group. MetS was defined by Adult Treatment Panel III. CVD risk was estimated using the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE).


RESULTS
A total of 581 subjects were recruited. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 30.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.0-34.5). For the CVD risk and ABI studies 217 individuals were included (138 with MetS and 49 with diabetes). Average CVD risk was high (5%) on patients with MetS and twice as much as those without MetS. ABI was low (< 0.90) on 15 subjects [6.9% (95% CI), 3.5-10.2], with higher frequency in the MetS group: 14 patients (10.1%) vs 1 patient (1.3%). The frequency of low ABI in patients with and without diabetes was 18.3% and 3.6% respectively. Low ABI was associated to MetS, diabetes, inactivity, high risk of SCORE and less alcohol habit. In the multivariate analysis, the odds ratio for the association MetS/low ABI was 14.7 (95% CI, 1.7-123.6).


CONCLUSIONS
MetS is related to asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease. Thus, the measure of ABI in those patients with this syndrome is recommended.
Schmolling
Y
Y
Centro de Salud La Solana, Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, España. yschmolling@gmail.com
Del Valle
F J
FJ
Pérez de Oteyza
C
C
de Lucas
A
A
Brasero
F
F
Fajardo
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle; D001132:Arm; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment