Comparison of Postexercise Ankle Brachial Index in at Risk versus Diagnosed Peripheral Arterial Disease Population

Abstract

Abstract Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is characterized by stenosis or occlusion in the arteries of the limb causing limitation in the distal blood flow. Out of the various risk factors identified, diabetes and cigarette smoking are the strongest predictors of PAD. PAD results from atherosclerosis of the vessel wall. Patients with lower extremity PAD have clinical presentation of intermittent claudication and atypical leg pain. In patients with arterial stenosis, there is a drop in pressure and flow across stenosis. Asymptomatic PAD approximately 20%–50% of total patients diagnosed with PAD. Ankle brachial index (ABI) is clinically widely used modality which helps to identify the disease. ABI test is the ratio of systolic ankle blood pressure and highest systolic brachial blood pressure. Population at risk with normal resting ABI may still have PAD. For such population, postexercise ABI is recommended. This study evaluated and compared ABI postexercise in normal healthy individuals without risk of PAD, at risk of PAD. Materials and Methods: This study is an observational study. Population with age more than 35 years were selected. Framingham Risk Score was taken for normal and at-risk population. Subjects were recruited in three groups: A, B, and C. ABI at rest was assessed. Individuals performed exercise treadmill test. Immediately, after completing the exercise, postexercise ABI was taken. Absolute systolic blood pressure values and postexercise ABI values were obtained in all three groups and then were compared. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 26. Results: The results of this study showed that for all the three groups, there was a significant difference in ABI at rest, postexercise ABI, and difference in systolic ankle pressure as P value was <0.001. When the Chi-squared test was done for postexercise ABI and postsystolic ankle pressure in between Group B and Group C, there was no significant difference found as the P value was >0.05. Conclusion: On comparison with at risk and normal individuals, no significant difference was found in terms of postexercise ABI and change in systolic ankle pressure.