Cardiology Letters 2011, 20(3):215-220

nkle-brachial index as a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Kmecová D¹, Kozárová M², Rašiová M³, Kmec J¹

¹ Angiocare s.r.o., Neštátnej angiologickej ambulancie v Košiciach

² IV. interná klinika Univerzitnej nemocnice L. Pasteura v Košiciach

³ Doliečovacie oddelenie Univerzitnej nemocnice L. Pasteura v Košiciach, Slovenská republika

Cardiovascular diseases are still one of the major causes of high morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Acute cardiovascular events often occur in patients without known preexisting cardiovascular disease, so the early identification of patients with subclinical atherosclerosis is necessary in clinical practice. The stratification of cardiovascular risk according to the established tables may underestimate the global cardiovascular risk. That is why other methods should be used. One of them is the measurement of the ankle-brachial index: a recognized marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. The measurement of the ankle-brachial index is a non-invasive, simple and reproducible method that is used to diagnose peripheral arterial disease. The association between a low ankle-brachial index and poor cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has been known for many years, but high levels of the ankle-brachial index have become the topic of expert discussion nowadays. The aim of the article is to focus on the fact that a high ankle-brachial index is also based on recently published studies, the predictor of poor cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is necessary in clinical practice to pay attention to both a low and a high ankle-brachial index: a useful method to early identify patients at high risk. The measurement of ankle-brachial index should be a part of cardiovascular screening.

Keywords: ankle-brachial index; peripheral arterial disease; cardiovascular morbidity; cardiovascular mortality; mediocalcinosis

Published: March 1, 2011  Show citation