Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) assessed by ankle-brachial index in patients with established cardiovascular disease or at least one risk factor for atherosclerosis

Background: Peripheral arterial disease is associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to identify unrecognized patients with peripheral arterial disease using ankle-brachial index in patients with established cardiovascular disease or at least one risk factor for atherosclerosis. Material and methods: One hundred fifty-four patients with 94 males and 60 females underwent assessment of peripheral arterial disease using ankle-brachial index by pulse Doppler. Correlation between peripheral arterial disease and various variables (history of cardiovascular disease or various risk factors for atherosclerosis) was established using Pearson coefficient correlation test and linear-by-linear association. Results: Peripheral arterial disease was present in 24.03 % (n = 37) of patients in the study population. A total of 22.08 % (n = 34) patients in study population had ankle-brachial index between 0.41 and 0.90, i.e., mild to moderate peripheral arterial disease, and 1.95 % (n = 3) had ankle-brachial index between 0.00 and 0.40, indicating severe peripheral arterial disease. Advancing age (p < 0.001; linear-by-linear association = 24.448), smoking (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.005), hypertension (p = 0.008), hyperlipidemia (p < 0.001), cardiovascular disease (p = 0.003), and number of risk factors (p < 0.001; linear-by-linear association = 50.099) showed a statistically significant correlation with peripheral arterial disease. No significant difference was found between men and women (59.46 vs. 40.54 %, respectively, p = 0.051) in terms of peripheral arterial disease. Conclusion: Peripheral arterial disease is highly prevalent in patients with established cardiovascular disease or who have at least one risk factor for atherosclerosis. Screening of patients for peripheral arterial disease by pulse Doppler (which is cheap, rapid, and precise method to detect peripheral arterial disease) would allow identification of high-risk patients who could benefit from an appropriate treatment strategy. © 2016, Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons.