Abnormal Ankle-brachial Index Research Articles

Light physical activity improves lower limb perfusion asymmetries in older sedentary adults — an exploratory study

Perfusion asymmetries between lower limbs are common even in healthy young individuals, although their physiological significance is unknown. Even in the absence of vascular disease, ageing is among the determinants that seem to accentuate those differences. While it is known that physical activity affects vascular hemodynamics, its specific impact on perfusion asymmetries in healthy elderly individuals is still unclear. This study aimed to identify vascular asymmetries and their variations after a regular program of light exercise in older individuals with age-related comorbidities in the absence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Ten participants, mean age 62.4 ± 5.6 years old, were selected following specific criteria. Participants were mostly sedentary, combining one or more common morbidities for this age group — in particular hypertension, overweight and / or diabetes (T2D). Exclusion criteria were an abnormal Ankle-Brachial Index assessed in a standing position at rest and evidence of compromised mobility. All procedures respected the principles of good clinical practice, being previously submitted and approved by the institutional Ethical Commission. Lower limb perfusion was assessed in both feet (anteromedial region) at two time points — day zero (D0) and thirty days later (D30) — using two optical-based technologies — Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) and Polarized Spectroscopy (PSp). These two technologies measure at different depths, with LDF providing deeper tissue readings. During this evaluation period, participants underwent a daily structured program of light exercises based on the FITT principles (F, frequency; I, intensity; T, time and T, type of activity/activity performance) centred in the lower limb perfusion. The group revealed significant asymmetries at D0, where the right foot consistently showed higher values with both technologies correlating positively. At D30, LDF values increased by 57.5% in both feet, meaning that asymmetries disappeared. No significant changes were observed with PSp. Basic cardiovascular functions such as blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were also evaluated, showing significant decreases in systolic pressure and mean arterial pressure. These encouraging results suggest that regular physical activity, even if light in intensity and duration, improves overall hemodynamics and specifically raises perfusion in the lower limbs. These findings should be further explored with the aimof prevention and treatment of PVD. This research was financed by national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (Portugal), under the [UIDB/04567/2020] and [UIDP/ 04567/2020] programs. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

ANKLE-BRACHIAL INDEX AS SHORT TERM AND LONG-TERM PREDICTOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS AFTER MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: A 3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY

Objective: The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a non-invasive index originally proposed for the diagnosis of lower-extremity peripheral artery disease. It is also a marker of atherosclerosis in other vascular sites and may serve as a prognostic marker for cardiovascular events even in the absence of PAD symptoms. However, data on the prognostic value of this index in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (MI) are scarce. Design and method: We prospectively evaluated 441 patients [79.4% male; average age 62 years, 67.6% hypertensive, 29.7% diabetes mellitus (DM); 54.9% STEMI] hospitalized for acute MI. Basic demographic, echocardiographic, peri- and postoperative details were recorded and analyzed. The ABI threshold used to define abnormal levels was less than or equal to 0.90 and recorded according to established guidelines using a certified automated device (ABPI MD, MESI®). The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause and cardiovascular death, as well as major cardiovascular events including decompensated heart failure, new ACS, cerebrovascular event, malignant arrhythmia, PAD event and new onset renal dysfunction. All events were assessed both in-hospital and within 3 years of follow-up. Results: The mean ABI of our study population was estimated to be 1.1 (IQR: 1.00 to 1.18). In reduced multivariate regression models ABI was a prognostic indicator for the in-hospital composite endpoint. Particularly, patients with abnormal ABI showed a threefold risk of in-hospital events [HR 2.93, 95% CI: 1.48-5.81, p=0.002]. Regarding all-cause mortality, after multivariate analysis, ABI [HR 2.88, 95% CI: 1.53 – 5.42, p=0.001] maintained its predictive power regardless of hypertension, DM, LDL levels and smoking status of the study population in 3 years follow-up. Conclusions: In the setting of an acute MI, lower ABI values expose these patients to a higher risk of in-hospital events and are independently associated with long-term all-cause mortality. Consequently, ABI monitoring in patients with MI may identify patients with a higher risk profile and contribute to early clinical decision making.

Impact of a Quality Improvement Initiative on Medical Management of Veterans With Peripheral Artery Disease

Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for peripheral artery disease (PAD) remains severely underused. Prevention of Amputation in Veterans Everywhere (PAVE) is a screening program designed to prevent or delay major lower extremity amputation. This study aimed to determine whether diagnosis of PAD through the PAVE program improves the prescription of GDMT in veterans with asymptomatic PAD. Patients enrolled into the PAVE program from our institution from 2020 to 2021 were included. Patients with an abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI), defined as ABI <0.9 or >1.2, were selected for further analysis. Primary outcome was adherence to GDMT, following class I and class IIa recommendations. Secondary outcomes included changes in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), blood pressure, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). A total of 6,313 patients were enrolled into the PAVE program between 2020 and 2021. Of these, 211 had abnormal ABI and were included in our analysis. With enrollment into PAVE, there was significant increase in the prescription of aspirin (74.4% vs 64.9%, p = 0.044) and statins (91.5% vs 82%, p = 0.006). The overall adherence to GDMT significantly increased (56.9% vs 38.9%, p <0.001). The number of patients needed to enroll in PAVE to improve GDMT adherence is 5.6 (95% confidence interval 3.6 to 12.3). Patients enrolled into PAVE program saw significant decreases in HbA1c, with mean decrease of 0.3 (p = 0.012) and a decrease in LDL, with a mean decrease of 6.2 (p = 0.01). In conclusion, enrollment into an amputation prevention program secondarily increased adherence to GDMT, driven by increases in the prescription of statins and aspirin, with resulting decreases in HbA1c and LDL.

Prevalence and risk factors for diabetic foot complications among people living with diabetes in Harare, Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDiabetic foot disease (DF) is a common diabetes-related complication; however, the prevalence and associated risk factors for DF are not well characterised among people living with diabetes (PLWD) in Zimbabwe. This may suggest the unavailability of adequate strategies to diagnose and treat DF in the country. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of DF and associated risk factors for PLWD in Harare, Zimbabwe.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study, employing a quantitative approach. In total, 352 PLWD were recruited from 16 primary care clinics in Harare. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected via face-to-face interviews and clinical records reviews. The DF screening included an evaluation for peripheral neuropathy, ankle-brachial index (ABI), ulceration, and amputation. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs), and KAP was scored using Bloom’s cut-off. Chi-Square goodness-of-fit tests were performed, and regression analyses were used for association analysis. The threshold for significance was p < 0.05.ResultsThis group included 82 men and 279 women, with a combined mean age of 57.9 ± 14 years. Twenty one (~ 26%) men and 41 (15%) women had type 1 diabetes. The diabetes type distribution significantly differed by gender (p < 0.001). Oral hypoglycaemics (71%) were most commonly administered for management. DF was observed in 53% (95% CI = 50–56) of PLWD. Other DF symptoms observed were abnormal ABI (53%), peripheral neuropathy (53%), foot ulceration (17%) and amputation (3%). Peripheral neuropathy increased the risk of ulceration (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1–2.6; p = 0.019), while insulin use was protective against amputation (OR = 0.1; 95% CI = 0.1–0.9; p = 0.049). Most (87%) of the participants demonstrated good DF knowledge and the importance of adhering to medication to prevent DF. However, 96% did not know that smoking was a risk factor for DF. Nearly two-thirds (63%) demonstrated poor attitudes and practices. Poor attitudes and practices were not predictors of DF ulceration risk (p > 0.05).ConclusionThis study showed that there was a high prevalence of DF (53%) in PLWD in Zimbabwe, and insulin use was protective against DF. There is an urgent need for policy revisions to include foot screening in routine primary care and increasing insulin use for PLWD to prevent complications such as DF as an integral part of primary care.

Coronary artery calcium as a marker of healthy and unhealthy aging in adults aged 75 and older: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study

Background and aimsCoronary artery calcium (CAC) is validated for risk prediction among middle-aged adults, but there is limited research exploring implications of CAC among older adults. We used data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study to evaluate the association of CAC with domains of healthy and unhealthy aging in adults aged ≥75 years. MethodsWe included 2,290 participants aged ≥75 years free of known coronary heart disease who underwent CAC scoring at study visit 7. We examined the cross-sectional association of CAC = 0, 1–999 (reference), and ≥1000 with seven domains of aging: cognitive function, hearing, ankle-brachial index (ABI), pulse-wave velocity (PWV), forced vital capacity (FVC), physical functioning, and grip strength. ResultsThe mean age was 80.5 ± 4.3 years, 38.6% male, and 77.7% White. 10.3% had CAC = 0 and 19.2% had CAC≥1000. Individuals with CAC = 0 had the lowest while those with CAC≥1000 had the highest proportion with dementia (2% vs 8%), hearing impairment (46% vs 67%), low ABI (3% vs 18%), high PWV (27% vs 41%), reduced FVC (34% vs 42%), impaired grip strength (66% vs 74%), and mean composite abnormal aging score (2.6 vs 3.7). Participants with CAC = 0 were less likely to have abnormal ABI (aOR:0.15, 95%CI:0.07–0.34), high PWV (aOR:0.57, 95%CI:0.41–0.80), and reduced FVC (aOR:0.69, 95%CI:0.50–0.96). Conversely, participants with CAC≥1000 were more likely to have low ABI (aOR:1.74, 95%CI:1.27–2.39), high PWV (aOR:1.52, 95%CI:1.15–2.00), impaired physical functioning (aOR:1.35, 95%CI:1.05–1.73), and impaired grip strength (aOR:1.46, 95%CI:1.08–1.99). ConclusionsOur findings highlight CAC as a simple measure broadly associated with biological aging, with clinical and research implications for estimating the physical and physiological aging trajectory of older individuals.

Evaluation of ankle brachial index, serum miR-103 and LP-PLA2 in the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke.

To explore the prognostic value of ankle brachial index (ABI), serum microribonucleic acid-103 (miR-103), and lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (LP-PLA2) indicators in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A retrospective analysis was conducted using the medical records of 202 patients with AIS admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from June 2019 to December 2022. Patients were divided into two groups based on their prognosis: the Poor-group (n=72) and the Good-group (n=130). Levels of ABI, serum miR-103, and LP-PLA2 indicators were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors for the poor prognosis in patients with AIS, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive ability of ABI, serum miR-103, and LP-PLA2 levels on the prognosis of AIS. Seventy two patients had a poor prognosis (35.6%) and 130 had a good prognosis (64.4%). The Poor-group had a higher proportion of elderly patients, patients with a history of diabetes and hypertension, abnormal ABI, and elevations in serum miR-103 and LP-PLA2 compared to the Good-group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that abnormal ABI, and high levels of serum miR-103 and LP-PLA2 were independent risk factors for the poor prognosis. ROC curve provided a combined AUC of 0.862, which was higher than that of the individual ABI, serum miR-103, and LP-PLA2 curves, with values of 0.625, 0.749, and 0.696, respectively (P<0.05). Abnormal ABI, and high serum miR-103 and LP-PLA2 levels are independent risk factors for poor prognosis in AIS patients. They can be used as important indicators for predicting the prognosis of AIS.

Retinal neurovascular alteration in type 2 diabetes with renal impairment in association with systemic arterial stiffness

BackgroundDiabetic retinopathy (DR) patients should be alert for subclinical macroangiopathy. We aimed to investigate the association between retinal neurovascular alteration and systemic arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) patients with varying degrees of renal impairment.MethodsThe study included 170 patients with confirmed diagnosis of type 2 DM aged ≥18 years old. Renal function was assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Arterial stiffness was measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle brachial index (ABI). Retinal neurovascular parameters were derived from Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)/OCT-Angiography, represented by vessel density (VD Central, Inner, Outer, Full), foveal avascular zone (FAZ area and FAZ perimeter) of the superficial capillary plexus, the average of macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness (ave mGC-IPLt) and the average of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (aveRNFLt). The association between variables among the groups (according to renal function, diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity, and arterial stiffness categories) were analyzed by regression analysis with multiple hypothesis testing commands.ResultsOut of the 265 eyes, the mean DM duration and HbA1c were 6.21 ± 6.37 years and 8.44 ± 2.06% respectively. While the mean of eGFR, baPWV and ABI were 66.78 ± 32.80 ml/min/1.73m2, 15.49 ± 3.07 m/s, and 1.05 ± 0.12, respectively. Patients with more severe renal impairment demonstrated longer DM duration (p < 0.001), higher baPWV (p < 0.0001), and retinal vascular alteration. Proliverative DR group showed the lowest eGFR (p < 0.0001), highest baPWV (p < 0.0001), and retinal neurovascular changes. Significantly lower eGFR and retinal vascular alteration were found in the baPWV > 14 group. Some neurovascular parameters were significantly negatively correlated with baPWV; moreover, retinal neurovascular changes were also noted in the abnormal ABI group.ConclusionsThe strong association between changes in the retinal neurovascular system, DR severity, renal impairment, and arterial stiffness in type 2 DM was confirmed. Patients with more severe renal impairment had higher levels of arterial stiffness, more severe DR and retinal neurovascular alteration. Retinal neurovascular changes seen in OCT/OCTA might mimic renal microvascular alteration and systemic arterial stiffness. Therefore, assessment of baPWV and OCT/OCTA should be integrated in DR screening to enhance cardiovascular risk stratification and prognosis as well as to provide clinically useful early identification of subclinical micro- and macrovascular alterations.

An isolated pontine infarct extending to the basal pontine surface has a higher abnormal ankle-brachial index

Patients with ischemic stroke and branch atheromatous disease (BAD) have worse neurological deficits and prognoses than those with small vessel occlusion (SVO). However, both disorders are forms of deep brain infarctions. This study aimed to investigate an MRI-based etiological classification for isolated pontine infarctions and assess differences in vascular risk factors and peripheral arterial disease among etiological subtypes. Consecutive data of patients admitted for acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack between August 2016 and July 2019 were reviewed. Acute isolated pontine infarcts were classified into 3 groups: BAD, SVO, and large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA), according to basilar or vertebral artery steno-occlusion and the extent of the infarct lesion on the basal pontine surface as displayed on magnetic resonance imaging and angiography. Vascular risk factors, ankle-brachial index (ABI), and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were analyzed in the 3 groups. Among 64 enrolled patients, BAD was the most common cause of isolated pontine infarct. The BAD group had a higher frequency of abnormal ABI and hypertension than the SVO group. The BAD group had abnormal ABI and hyperlipidemia more frequently than the LAA group. No significant difference was found in diabetes or brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity incidence between the BAD and SVO groups. ABI and vascular risk factors in the BAD group were more similar to those in the LAA group than to those in the SVD group. This finding suggests that pontine lesions extending to the basal pontine surface have an atherosclerotic mechanism in BAD, requiring potent antiplatelet therapy for the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke.

Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease After Cardiac Catheterization: A Prospective Observational Study

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common vascular condition with roughly one-half of patients being asymptomatic. Moreover, PAD is commonly seen in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) due to their shared atherosclerotic pathway. Our aim was to understand the prevalence and symptomatology of PAD in patients with established CAD seen on coronary angiography. Subjects with CAD were prospectively screened for PAD at a single-site catheterization laboratory (June 2021-April 2022). Following consent, a bedside ankle-brachial-index (ABI) (Microlife WatchBP Office ABI) was performed, and the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire (ECQ) (validated for PAD) was administered. PAD was defined as an ABI ≤0.90.We recruited 100 subjects (98 completed investigations: 67.5 age ± 9.5 years, 17.3% female). Twenty-one subjects (21.4%) had PAD as demonstrated by an abnormal ABI or previous diagnosis. There was a strong trend towards a higher prevalence of diabetes in those with PAD (52.4% vs. 29.9%, p=0.055). Kappa agreement between ECQ and ABI was weak (0.27). In conclusion, roughly one-quarter of subjects with CAD had ABI confirmed PAD (even more common in diabetics). The ECQ provided low agreement with ABI suggesting many of these subjects are asymptomatic. ABI can be used as a simple non-invasive tool at the bedside following cardiac catheterization to screen for PAD which has implications on subsequent clinical care.

Abstract 13580: Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on the Association of Ankle Brachial Index With Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality

Introduction: The association of low Ankle brachial index (ABI) with increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) as well as all-cause mortality is well established. Similarly, there is an independent association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with CV and all-cause mortality. Little is known about the association of low ABI with CV and all-cause mortality by CKD status. Methods: We used data on 4,614 subjects from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2002. Those with available data on ABI and CKD status were included. Subjects were categorized as: 1) normal ABI ( &gt; 0.9), no CKD (eGFR &gt; 60 ml/min/m 2 , reference), 2) normal ABI and CKD, 3) Abnormal ABI, no CKD, 4) Abnormal ABI and CKD. NHANES-linked National death index records were used to determine CV and all-cause mortality. We used Cox proportional-hazards models and controlled for age, race, gender, income, educational status, smoking history, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, HDL and total cholesterol levels and history of CV disease. Results: Mean age was 55.7 years with 51% females and 4% blacks. Low ABI was present in 7%, while 6.4% had CKD and 1.3% had both low ABI and CKD. Median follow-up was 10.3 years. ABI&lt;0.9 was associated with risk of all-cause [Hazard ratio: 1.59 (95% confidence interval: 1.21-2.01)] and CV mortality [2.80 (1.72-4.56)] compared to normal ABI. Similarly, CKD was associated with risk of all-cause [1.34 (1.04-1.71)] and CV mortality [1.69 (1.0-2.96)] compared to no CKD. Among categories, the risk was [1.29 (0.9-1.8)], [1.57 (1.1-2.2)] and [1.92 (1.3-2.6)] for all cause mortality, and [1.2 (0.5-2.9)], [2.3 (1.3-4.0)] and [4.72, (2.6-8.4)] for CV mortality in groups normal ABI with CKD, abnormal ABI without CKD and abnormal ABI and CKD both, respectively compared to the reference group. Conclusion: Low ABI confers a much higher risk of CV and all-cause mortality in those with CKD than those without CKD. More aggressive risk factor modification might be warranted in those with CKD and low ABI to lower risk.

The Accuracy and Reliability of Automated Oscillometric Measurement of Ankle-Brachial Index in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Artery Disease

Comparing the accuracy and reliability of ankle-brachial index (ABI) measured by an oscillometric device with the Doppler method in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). 122 patients admitted to the department of interventional radiology with PAD were studied. ABI was measured with the 2 methods in random order. After excluding the inconclusive results, Doppler ABIs were compared with the oscillometric ABIs in each limb, the reliability was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and the accuracy and consistency were assessed by receiver operating characteristic curves and Bland-Altman method. In 122 patients (244 legs), 27 legs got inconclusive oscillometric results, 4 legs got inconclusive oscillometric and inconclusive dorsalis pedis artery Doppler results, 2 legs had oscillometric cuff pressure intolerance. Using Doppler ABI <0.9 as a diagnostic threshold, compared with the high Doppler ABI, oscillometric method had a sensitivity of 57.81%, a specificity of 95.18%, the ICC was 0.626 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.536-0.701), Bland-Altman method showed 11/211 (5.21%) difference points outside the 95% limits of agreement. Compared with the low Doppler ABI, oscillometric method had a sensitivity of 50.66%, a specificity of 98.31%, the ICC was 0.541(95% CI: 0.483-0.630), Bland-Altman method showed 11/211 (5.21%) difference points outside the 95% limits of agreement. Using 1.00 as the diagnostic threshold and considering error oscillometric results as abnormal ABIs, the sensitivity improved to 88.05% with high Doppler ABI and 81.42% with the low. The accuracy and reliability of oscillometric ABI in patients with PAD is unsatisfied, which makes it not suitable as an alternative method in clinic disease assessment. Using 1.0 as the ABI oscillometric threshold for PAD diagnosis can improve the diagnostic value.

Adiponectin rs1501299 and chemerin rs17173608 gene polymorphism in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: relation with macroangiopathy and peripheral artery disease.

Although macrovascular complications represent the leading cause of mortality in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), the prevalence of subtle macrovascular affection including peripheral artery disease (PAD) among children with T1DM and its genetic predictors remains to be unraveled. Increasing evidence suggests a link between adiponectin rs1501299 and chemerin rs17173608 gene polymorphism and atherogenesis, and insulin resistance. Hence, this study assess the prevalence of these variants among children with T1DM in comparison to healthy controls and their association with macrovascular complications, namely PAD and hyperlipidemia. Fifty children with T1DM and 50 matched controls underwent a thorough assessment including adiponectin rs1501299 and chemerin rs17173608 gene polymorphisms, fasting lipids, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and ankle-brachial index (ABI). Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to decide the risk allele and evaluate the association between the candidate variant and PAD using a case-control design. Children with T1DM were found to have significantly higher ABI (p = 0.011) than controls. Chemerin gene polymorphism was detected in 41 children with T1DM (82.0%), while adiponectin gene polymorphism was detected in 19 children (38.0%). Children with T1DM having GG chemerin variant and those having TT adiponectin variant had significantly higher cholesterol with significantly lower HDL-C and ABI than those having the other two variants (p < 0.005). Children with T1DM having abnormal ABI had significantly higher chemerin G (p = 0.017) and adiponectin T (p = 0.022) alleles than those with normal ABI. Cholesterol and ABI were independently associated with chemerin and adiponectin gene polymorphism by multivariable regression analysis. Children with T1DM having chemerin and adiponectin gene polymorphisms have significantly higher cholesterol and ABI than those without these polymorphisms and controls. The Research Ethics Committee of Ain Shams University, approval number R 31/2021.

Hypoxemia of the lower limbs during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in Trendelenburg position.

The objective of this study is to assess frequency and risk factors for intraoperative hypoxemia of the lower limbs during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Trendelenburg position during RARP may contribute to hypoxemia and compartment syndrome (CS) of the lower limbs as a major but rare complication. This prospective study included patients undergoing RARP for prostate cancer. Preoperative calculation of the ankle-brachial-index (ABI) was performed. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) at the toes was routinely measured. Occurrence of SpO2 levels of <90% was defined as hypoxemic events and treated immediately. Blood pressure, intraabdominal pressure, SpO2 of the upper limb and surgery time were monitored in case of hypoxemia. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed with age, BMI, nicotine abuse, MAP, comorbidities as covariates and hypoxemia of the lower limbs as the outcome. A total of 207 patients were included. Among these, 126 patients had ABI measurements with 10.6% having an abnormal ABI value. One, two or at least three events of lower limb hypoxemia occurred intraoperatively in 19.7%, 14.8% and 16.9%, respectively. In 20 events, surgical instruments were affecting vascular perfusion by compression. None of the covariates were statistically significant associated with lower limb hypoxemia. No patient developed a compartment syndrome. Decrease in oxygen saturation of the lower extremities was observed frequently during RARP, without revealing any risk factors for its occurrence. Routine oximetry leads to an early detection of hypoxemia of the lower extremities, giving the anaesthesiologist and surgeon the opportunity to make adequate adjustments (increasing blood pressure and ending iliac vessel compression).

Contrast-free ultrasound imaging for blood flow assessment of the lower limb in patients with peripheral arterial disease: a feasibility study

While being a relatively prevalent condition particularly among aging patients, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of lower extremities commonly goes undetected or misdiagnosed due to its symptoms being nonspecific. Additionally, progression of PAD in the absence of timely intervention can lead to dire consequences. Therefore, development of non-invasive and affordable diagnostic approaches can be highly beneficial in detection and treatment planning for PAD patients. In this study, we present a contrast-free ultrasound-based quantitative blood flow imaging technique for PAD diagnosis. The method involves monitoring the variations of blood flow in the calf muscle in response to thigh-pressure-cuff-induced occlusion. Four quantitative metrics are introduced for analysis of these variations. These metrics include post-occlusion to baseline flow intensity variation (PBFIV), total response region (TRR), Lag0 response region (L0RR), and Lag4 (and more) response region (L4 + RR). We examine the feasibility of this method through an in vivo study consisting of 14 PAD patients with abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) and 8 healthy volunteers. Ultrasound data acquired from 13 legs in the patient group and 13 legs in the healthy group are analyzed. Out of the four utilized metrics, three exhibited significantly different distributions between the two groups (p-value < 0.05). More specifically, p-values of 0.0015 for PBFIV, 0.0183 for TRR, and 0.0048 for L0RR were obtained. The results of this feasibility study indicate the diagnostic potential of the proposed method for the detection of PAD.

#5657 FRAILTY AND VASCULAR ACCESS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Abstract Background and Aims Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by increased vulnerability to stressors. The elderly become vulnerable and susceptible to adverse outcomes for their health and to functional restrictions. Previous guidelines suggested fistula creation as first choice for vascular access. Current guidelines suggest a more tailored approach to the patient's needs. Despite the high prevalence of frailty in hemodialysis patients, there is paucity of work investigating the relationship between frailty and vascular access failure. The aim of the study was the estimation of frailty with different scores and relationship with the choice of first vascular access, the current vascular access and vascular failures. Method 67 patients in hemodialysis participated to the study (observational cross-sectional study). Frailty was assessed with 6 different scores,Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Frailty Phenotype (FP), Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS), Groningen Frailty Index GFI), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Prisma-7 and ankle-brachial index (ABI) and hand grip were also estimated. The current vascular access, the first vascular access, the vascular access failures and the mean duration of the vascular accesses were also recorded. Finally, the levels of the hemoglobin, serum albumin, C reactive protein, cholesterol were measured for all patients and the hemodialysis adequacy (URR, sp Kt/V) was calculated from the levels of urea before and after the hemodialysis session. Finally, the levels of the hemoglobin, albumin, C reactive protein, cholesterol were measured for all patients and the hemodialysis adequacy was calculated from the levels of urea before and after the hemodialysis session. Results The first vascular access of hemodialysis presents statistically significant relation between frail and robust patients that start hemodialysis with central venus catheter and AVF-AVG respectively. (SPPB- tunneled CVC 85, 7%, non tunneled CVC 46,2% ρ=0,032, Prisma-7- frail tunneled CVC 100%, non tunneled CVC 76,9% ρ=0,018, Groningen FI -frail tunneled CVC 100%, non tunneled CVC 65,7% ρ=0,011, Εdmonton FS -AVF-AVG not frail 64,7%, vulnerable 20,6% ρ=0,042) (Table 1-4). ABI presented a statistically significant relationship with the current vascular access. 68,18% of the patients with normal ABI have AVF-AVG and 60,87% of patients with abnormal ABI have tunneled CVC (p=0,022). In addition, the number of vascular accesses per patient, the mean duration of the accesses and the premature failures (3 months after creation) don't present statistically significant relation with frailty. Conclusion The frailty score could be used as a tool for the choice of vascular access in hemodialysis patients. Further studies, in a larger number of patients, are required to define a reliable and easy to use frailty tool, which is best suited to dialysis access selection.

Cardiovascular risk in myositis patients compared with the general population.

We aimed to evaluate cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) compared with healthy controls (HC) and to assess its association with disease-specific features. Ninety IIM patients and 180 age-/sex-matched HC were included. Subjects with a history of CV disease (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular/peripheral arterial vascular events) were excluded. All participants were prospectively recruited and underwent examinations of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), ankle-brachial index (ABI), and body composition. The risk of fatal CV events was evaluated by the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) and its modifications. Compared with HC, IIM patients had a significantly higher prevalence of traditional CV risk factors, carotid artery disease (CARD), abnormal ABI and PWV. After propensity score matching (using traditional CV risk factors), the prevalence of CARD and pathological PWV remained significantly higher in IIM than HC. No significant difference in SCORE was observed. The most unfavourable CV risk profile was observed in patients with necrotizing myopathy, especially in statin-induced anti-HMGCR+ patients. The calculated CV risk scores by SCORE, SCORE2 and SCORE multiplied by the coefficient 1.5 (mSCORE) were reclassified according to CIMT and the presence of carotid plaques. SCORE was demonstrated to be most inaccurate in predicting CV risk in IIM. Age, disease activity, lipid profile, body composition parameters and blood pressure were the most significant predictors of CV risk in IIM patients. Significantly higher prevalence of traditional risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis was observed in IIM patients compared with HC.

Influence of an abnormal ankle-brachial index on ischemic and bleeding events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Bleeding events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have important prognostic implications. Data on the influence of an abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) on both ischemic and bleeding events in patients undergoing PCI are limited. We included patients who underwent PCI with available ABI data (abnormal ABI, ≤ 0.9 or > 1.4). The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and major bleeding. Among 4,747 patients, an abnormal ABI was observed in 610 patients (12.9%). During follow-up (median, 31 months), the 5-year cumulative incidence of adverse clinical events was higher in the abnormal ABI group than in the normal ABI group: primary endpoint (36.0% vs. 14.5%, log-rank test, p < 0.001); all-cause death (19.4% vs. 5.1%, log-rank test, p < 0.001); MI (6.3% vs. 4.1%, log-rank test, p = 0.013); stroke (6.2% vs. 2.7%, log-rank test, p = 0.001); and major bleeding (8.9% vs. 3.7%, log-rank test, p < 0.001). An abnormal ABI was an independent risk factor for all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR], 3.05; p < 0.001), stroke (HR, 1.79; p = 0.042), and major bleeding (HR, 1.61; p = 0.034). An abnormal ABI is a risk factor for both ischemic and bleeding events after PCI. Our study findings may be helpful in determining the optimal method for secondary prevention after PCI.

The Association between Ankle–Brachial Index/Pulse Wave Velocity and Cerebral Large and Small Vessel Diseases in Stroke Patients

(1) Background: The study investigated whether the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and pulse wave velocity (baPWV) could reflect the severity of small vessel disease (SVD) and large artery atherosclerosis (LAA). (2) Methods: A total of 956 consecutive patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke were prospectively enrolled from July 2016 to December 2017. SVD severity and LAA stenosis grades were evaluated via magnetic resonance imaging and carotid duplex ultrasonography. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the ABI/baPWV and measurement values. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictive potential. (3) Results: Among the 820 patients included in the final analysis, the stenosis grade of extracranial and intracranial vessels was inversely correlated with the ABI (p < 0.001, respectively) and positively correlated with the baPWV (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). Abnormal ABI, not baPWV, independently predicted the presence of moderate (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.31-3.63) to severe (aOR: 5.59, 95% CI: 2.21-14.13) extracranial vessel stenosis and intracranial vessel stenosis (aOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.15-3.11). Neither the ABI nor baPWV was independently associated with SVD severity. (4) Conclusions: ABI is better than baPWV in screening for and identifying the existence of cerebral large vessel disease, but neither test is a good predictor of cerebral SVD severity.

Sleep Irregularity and Subclinical Markers of Cardiovascular Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background Sleep irregularity has been linked to incident cardiovascular disease. Less is known about associations of sleep regularity with atherosclerosis. We examined cross-sectional associations of actigraphy-assessed sleep duration and sleep timing regularity with subclinical atherosclerosis in the community-based MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). Methods and Results MESA Sleep Ancillary Study participants (N=2032; mean age, 68.6±9.2 years; 37.9% White) completed 7-day wrist actigraphy. Participants underwent assessments of coronary artery calcium, carotid plaque presence, carotid intima-media thickness, and the ankle-brachial index. Sleep regularity was quantified by the 7-day with-in person SD of sleep duration and sleep onset timing. Relative risk regression models were used to calculate prevalence ratios and 95% CIs. Models are adjusted for demographics, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and other objectively assessed sleep characteristics including obstructive sleep apnea, sleep duration, and sleep fragmentation. After adjustment, compared with participants with more regular sleep durations (SD ≤60 minutes), participants with greater sleep duration irregularity (SD >120 minutes) were more likely to have high coronary artery calcium burden (>300; prevalence ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.03-1.71]) and abnormal ankle-brachial index (<0.9; prevalence ratio, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.03-2.95]). Compared with participants with more regular sleep timing (SD ≤30 minutes), participants with irregular sleep timing (SD >90 minutes) were more likely to have high coronary artery calcium burden (prevalence ratio, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.07-1.82]). Associations persisted after adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors and average sleep duration, obstructive sleep apnea, and sleep fragmentation. Conclusions Sleep irregularity, particularly sleep duration irregularity, was associated with several measures of subclinical atherosclerosis. Sleep regularity may be a modifiable target for reducing atherosclerosis risk. Future investigation into cardiovascular risk reduction interventions targeting sleep irregularity may be warranted.

Non-esterified fatty acids and risk of peripheral artery disease in older adults: The cardiovascular health study

Background and aimsNon-esterified fatty acids have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. No longitudinal study has assessed their effects on peripheral artery disease (PAD). We determined the relationships between NEFAs and incident clinical PAD and abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) in a population-based cohort of older persons. MethodsWe evaluated 4575 community living participants aged >65 years who underwent measurement of circulating NEFAs in fasting specimens and ABI in 1992–1993. Participants were assessed annually for clinical PAD until 2015 and underwent repeat ABI in 1998–1999. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to model the associations between NEFAs and risk of clinical PAD and logistic regression to model the associations of NEFAs with incident abnormal ABI. ResultsMean age was 74.8 years, 59% were female, and 17% were Black. NEFAs were associated with higher risk of clinical PAD in unadjusted and adjusted models. The adjusted hazard ratios for incident clinical PAD were 1.51 (95%CI = 1.06–2.13, p = 0.02) across extreme tertiles, and 1.14 (95%CI = 0.99–1.31, p = 0.08) per standard deviation higher NEFA. The corresponding odds ratios for abnormal ABI were 0.95 (95%CI = 0.69–1.32, p = 0.76) across extreme tertiles, and 1.03 (95%CI = 0.89–1.20, p = 0.68) per standard deviation higher NEFA. Relationships appeared similar irrespective of sex, race, or pre-existing cardiovascular disease, but were stronger later than earlier in follow-up. ConclusionsHigher serum levels of NEFAs are significantly associated with increased likelihood of clinical PAD over long-term follow-up but not with 6-year decline in ABI. NEFAs may offer a potential target for intervention against clinical PAD.