Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index and Pulse Wave Velocity in Cardiovascular Risk Assessment

The ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) are newer markers used to predict future cardiovascular events, independent of the conventional risk factors for cardiovascular disease. ABI measurement is also useful for the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease. While several guidelines recommend that the ABI be measured by the Doppler method, a simpler method that is also available is the oscillometric method. The carotid-femoral PWV, which reflects the stiffness of the large arteries, is the conventionally measured PWV parameter; however, the brachial-ankle PWV, which reflects the stiffness of large- to middle-sized arteries, is much simpler to measure.