Peripheral arterial disease ankle-brachial index

Peripheral arterial disease (claudication or ankle-brachial index less than 0.9)... 

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a simple, noninvasive, quantitative test that has been proven to be a highly sensitive and specific tool in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease. 

McDermott MM, Criqui MH, Liu K, et al. Lower ankle/brachial index, as calculated by averaging the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arterial pressures, and association with leg functioning in peripheral arterial disease. J Vase Surg 2000 32 1164-1171. 

Clearly, diabetics who have peripheral arterial disease have higher mortality rates than those who do not have arterial disease. A recent study by Vogt et al. (15) evaluated the relationship between peripheral arterial disease and mortality in a population of close to 2000 individuals over a 13-year period. All patients 50 years of age and older with no history of lower extremity surgery were evaluated for the presence of peripheral arterial disease. Analysis of the data stratified by populations and comorbid conditions showed that a low ankle-brachial index is an independent predictor of all causes of mortality in both men and women with peripheral arterial disease. This increase is a relative risk and is unchanged after exclusions of all patients with a clinical history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Thus, a low ankle-brachial index is an important measurement to obtain to assess the risk of mortality among those who smoke and have either angina or diabetes. 

McDermott MM, Mehta S, Liuk, et al. Legs symptoms, the ankle-brachial index, and walking ability in patients with peripheral arterial disease. J Gen Internal Med 1999 14 173-181. 

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