A correlation study between ankle brachial pressure index and the severity of coronary artery disease

Association of severity of coronary artery disease by SYNTAX score (SS) and lower extremity arterial disease by duplex ultrasound (DUS) study-an Indian perspective

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) often coexist. Ankle brachial index (ABI) has been shown to be an independent predictor of CAD. Studies have reported correlation of CAD and LEAD on the basis of ABI and also invasive angiography. But rigorous searching did not reveal any similar research where severity of LEAD was assessed by duplex ultrasound (DUS).

In this study, we assessed the association of severity and localisation of LEAD by DUS with SYNTAX score (SS).

Results

A total of 637 subjects above 45 years of age with coronary angiographic confirmation of CAD were studied in this single centre cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical research. High SS was significantly more common in subjects with LEAD (p = 0.04). In the femoro-popliteal segment, total occlusion of arteries was found in significantly more proportion of subjects with high SS. A progressive increase in mean SS was noted across the grades of arterial disease in the femoro-popliteal segment (p = 0.007). 85.2% of the LEAD was in the femoro-popliteal segment, while below-knee arterial disease was present in 98.5% of subjects with LEAD. Hypertension, smoking, history of CVE and presentation with ACS independently increased the risk of LEAD.

Conclusion

High prevalence of asymptomatic LEAD and association of high SS with LEAD as a whole as well as femoro-popliteal involvement suggests the need for a point of care DUS study (POCUS) since treatment varies with location and extent of disease which cannot be fathomed by ABI alone. Being the largest study on association of CAD and LEAD from Indian subcontinent till date and also the first study to use non-invasive tool as DUS for LEAD assessment while studying its association with CAD makes this a landmark experience.

Usefulness of the ankle-brachial index to predict high coronary SYNTAX scores, myocardium at risk, and incomplete coronary revascularization

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is strongly associated with coronary artery disease and poor outcomes after coronary revascularization. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with PAD diagnosed by a low ankle-brachial index (ABI; ≤0.90) have more complex coronary artery disease and more myocardium at risk than patients with normal ABIs (1.00 to 1.40) and that subsequent coronary revascularization is less complete. Adults referred for coronary angiography underwent ABI measurement using a standard Doppler ultrasound technique. Blinded reviewers calculated SYNTAX scores and Duke jeopardy scores at baseline and 3 months after angiography. Of 814 patients, 8% had PAD (ABI ≤0.90), 9% had borderline PAD (ABI 0.91 to 0.99), 77% were normal (ABI 1.00 to 1.40), and 7% had vascular calcification artifact (ABI >1.40). Patients with PAD were more likely to have high SYNTAX scores (≥33), with an odds ratio of 4.3 (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 14.9), compared with those with normal ABIs after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Similarly, there was a positive association between baseline high Duke jeopardy score (≥8) and PAD (adjusted odds ratio 3.5, 95% confidence interval 1.7 to 7.1). Postrevascularization high Duke jeopardy scores (≥5) were also positively associated with PAD (adjusted odds ratio 3.0, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 8.8). In conclusion, PAD is associated with higher SYNTAX scores, more myocardium at risk, and less complete coronary revascularization than in patients with normal ABIs. More complex coronary artery disease and incomplete revascularization may contribute to worse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with PAD.

Correlation Between Ankle Brachial Index and Coronary Artery Disease Severity in Elderly Egyptians

We investigated the association between ankle brachial index (ABI) and coronary heart disease (CHD) severity in elderly Egyptians using different measures. We conducted a case–control study from November 2010 to June 2012 including 200 male and female patients with ischemia ≥60 years who were divided into 100 cases and 100 controls according to ABI and redivided according to age. They underwent coronary angiography followed by ABI measurement using a hand-held Doppler. The CHD severity was estimated using the SYNTAX and Jeopardy scores and number of diseased vessels, which increased significantly in patients with peripheral artery disease ( P < .001) for all. All 3 measures had strong negative correlation with ABI ( P ≤ .001 for Jeopardy, <.001 for SYNTAX scores, and .004 for number of diseased vessels) and were correlated with each other. We concluded that ABI can reflect CHD severity in elderly Egyptians.

Complexity of lower extremity peripheral artery disease reflects the complexity of coronary artery disease

We investigated the relationship between peripheral artery disease complexity and coronary artery disease complexity in patients with peripheral artery disease. A total of 449 patients were enrolled. SYNTAX score, a marker of coronary artery disease complexity, was assessed by dedicated computer software and complexity of peripheral artery disease was determined by Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II classification. The SYNTAX score of patients with minimal peripheral artery disease, Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus A, Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus B, Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus C and Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus D were 5 (11), 12.5 (13.25), 20 (14), 20.5 (19) and 27.5 (19), respectively (values in brackets represent the interquartile range). SYNTAX score and Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus class was moderately correlated (r = 0.495, p < 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis male sex (B = 0.169, p < 0.001, CI95% = 0.270–0.735), Log10 SYNTAX score (B = 0.282, p < 0.001, CI95% = 0.431–0.782), Log10 creatinine (B = 0.081, p = 0.036, CI95% = 0.043–1.239), low-density lipoprotein (B = 0.114, p = 0.003, CI95% = 0.001–0.006) and high-density lipoprotein (B = −0.360, p < 0.001, CI95% = −0.063 to −0.041) were the independent predictors of Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II class. We have shown that patients with complex peripheral artery disease had complex coronary artery disease.

Relation between the ankle-brachial index and the complexity of coronary artery disease in older patients

Background

In the elderly, the ankle-brachial index (ABI) has greater than 90% sensitivity and specificity for peripheral artery disease identification. A well-known relation exists between peripheral artery disease and the number of diseased coronary vessels. Yet, other anatomical characteristics have important impacts on the type of treatment and prognosis.

Purpose

To determine the relation between ABI and the complexity of coronary artery disease, by different anatomical classifications.

Methods

This study was a prospective analysis of patients ≥65 years old who were undergoing elective coronary angiography for ischemic coronary disease. The ABI was calculated for each leg, as the ratio between the lowest ankle pressure and the highest brachial pressure. The analysis of coronary anatomy was performed by three interventional cardiologists; it included classification of each lesion with >50% diameter stenosis, according to the American Heart Association criteria, and calculation of the SYNTAX score.

Results

The study recruited 204 consecutive patients (median age: 72.5 years). Stable angina was present in 51% of patients. Although only 1% of patients reported peripheral artery disease, 45% exhibited an abnormal ABI. The number of lesions per patient, the number of patients with complex lesions, and the median SYNTAX scores were greater in the group with abnormal ABI. However, among 144 patients with obstructive coronary artery disease, despite abnormal ABI being able to identify a higher rate of patients with B2 or C type lesions (70.9% versus 53.8%; P=0.039), the mean SYNTAX scores (13 versus 9; P=0.14), and the proportion of patients with SYNTAX score >16 (34.2% versus 27.7%; P=0.47), were similar, irrespective of ABI.

Conclusion

In patients ≥65 years old the presence of peripheral artery disease could discriminate a group of patients with greater occurrence of B2 and C type lesions, but similar median SYNTAX score.