Correlation of severity of peripheral arterial disease of lower limbs with ankle brachial pressure index

Abstract

Introduction: The ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) is non-invasive tool for screening as well as assessing the severity of peripheral artery disease in patients who present with lower-extremity symptoms. Methods: A total of 100 patients were included in this prospective observational study who attended cardiothoracic and vascular surgery unit, Bir Hospital with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The ratio of higher ankle pressure to higher brachial pressure was calculated and correlated with symptoms and clinical features of PAD. Results: Of total 100 patients, the 84(84%) patients had ABPI less than 0.9. 52.6% patients with mild intermittent claudication had ABPI 0.4-0.9. Among 66 patients with severe PAD, 17(25.7%) had ABPI less than 0.4 and 42(63.3%) had ABPI 0.4-0.9. Conclusion: ABPI is cheap noninvasive tool to assess the PAD with sensitivity for 84% patients (ABPI