title: Ankle to brachial systolic pressure index at rest increases with age in asymptomatic physically active participants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is commonly acknowledged that the ability to use the ankle-brachial index (ABI), a reliable way to diagnose atherosclerosis, decreases with age in the general population. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between resting ABI and age in different populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  674 physically active participants with (active high risk, ACTHR) or without (active low risk, ACTLR) cardiovascular risk factors or/and sedentary (SED) subjects, aged 20-70 years. Systolic arterial pressure was recorded at rest and simultaneously with automatic sphygmomanometers at the arms and ankles. ABI was calculated as the ratio of the lowest, highest or mean ankle pressure to the highest arm pressure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proportion of ABImin<0.90 was 10.3% in SEDHRsubjects versus 0.5% and 1.2%, respectively, in ACTHRand ACTLRgroups. The averaged ABI value of each group was in the normal range in all groups (ABI>0.90) but was significantly lower in SEDHRcompared with all active participants (p<0.001). Regression lines from ABImeanversus age could lead to approximately +0.05 every 15 years of age in apparently healthy active participants (ACTLR).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ABI at rest increases with the increase in age in the groups of low-risk asymptomatic middle-aged trained adults. The previously reported decrease in ABI with age is found only in SEDHRsubjects, and is very likely to rely on the increased prevalence of asymptomatic arterial disease in this group. The increase of ABI with age is consistent with the 'physiological' stiffness observed in ageing arteries even in the absence of 'pathological' atherosclerotic lesions.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NIH clinicaltrial.gov: NCT01812343.
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity and Sport Learning Institute (IFEPSA) , Les Ponts-de-Cé , France.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Congnard
authors.affiliation: University Hospital , Angers , France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: University Hospital , Limoges , France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1087, Institute of Thorax, University Hospital , Nantes , France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Le Tourneau
authors.affiliation: University Hospital , Rennes , France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carre
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, EA SNA EPIS 4607 , University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, University of Lyon , Saint-Etienne , France.
authors.forename: David
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9032-9031
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hupin
authors.affiliation: University Hospital , Angers , France.
authors.forename: Jean François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.affiliation: University Hospital , Angers , France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vielle
authors.affiliation: University Hospital , Angers , France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruneau
keywords: Cardiovascular; Exercise; Physical activity