[Ankle-brachial index in the assessment of cardiovascular risk among HIV infected patients].
BACKGROUND
Vascular risk is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV infected patients.


OBJECTIVE
To study the value of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) in vascular risk stratification in a cohort of people with HIV infection.


METHODS
Vascular risk was calculated in all the patients that agreed to participate in the study and clinical reports were reviewed retrospectively. Ten year risk of fatal myocardial infarction was calculated according to Framingham equation, National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) III and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) project score. ABI was calculated measuring resting systolic blood pressure at the ankle, that was compared with the systolic brachial pressure. The ratio of the two pressures defined ABI, that was considered abnormal if it was ≤ 0.9 or ≥ 1.3.


RESULTS
A total of 231 HIV infected patients aged 23 to 82 years (80% males) were enrolled. Ten years risk according to Framingham equation was 8.4%, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 7.54-9.15 and according to SCORE scale was 0.8%, 95% CI: 0.62-1.01. According to NCEP III 9% of patients had a high or very high cardiovascular risk. Median ABI was 1.17 (95% CI intervals: 1.16-1.19) and 58 patients (25%) had an abnormal value. Using ABI results, approximately 20% of patients were re-classified as having a high vascular risk.


CONCLUSIONS
ABI identified approximately 20% of this cohort of HIV infected subjects as having high vascular risk.
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, España. Julio.olalla@gmail.com
Julián
J
Olalla
Daniel
D
Salas
Javier
J
De La Torre
Alfonso
A
Del Arco
José Luis
JL
Prada
Javier
J
García Alegría
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index / Q000379:methods*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult