Abstract
The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the relationship between the systolic blood pressure taken at the ankle level and the brachial artery. A pathological ABI (<0.90 or >1.40) indicates the presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Many studies indicate the great utility of this test in the diagnosis of PAD due to its ease of use, reproducibility, low cost, and high cost-effectiveness. This evaluation can be directly correlated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; however, it has recently been confirmed that a low ABI can be a predictor of major cardiovascular events, as it is related to diabetes mellitus, chronic coronary disease, stroke, and more. The objective of this work was to review the current evidence on the importance of ABI in the diagnosis of PAD and its main role as a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Highlights
Review ArticleAuthors affiliation 1 Service of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital, Lima, Peru
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is defined as the partial or total obstruction of one or more peripheral arteries due to atherosclerosis [1]
The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a quick, easy, and cost-free diagnostic test obtained by dividing the highest pressure at the ankle level by the systolic pressure in the upper arm . [11] Brachial pressure is used as a surrogate for central aortic pressure, which is not readily available and is generally accurate unless there is an occlusive disease of the vessels supplying the upper extremity
Summary
Authors affiliation 1 Service of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital, Lima, Peru. Funding The authors report no involvement in the research by the sponsor that could have influenced the outcome of this work. Conflicts of Interest No potential conflicts of interest were reported for this article. Cite as: Cáceres-Farfán L, MorenoLoaiza M, Cubas WS. Ankle-brachial index: more than a diagnostic test? Ankle-brachial index: more than a diagnostic test? Arch Peru Cardiol Cir Cardiovasc. 2021;2(4):254-262. doi: 10.47487/ apcyccv.v2i4.168
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