Association between ankle-brachial index and carotid atherosclerotic disease

Results: The prevalence of ABI ≤ 0.9 was 29.7%, whereas carotid atherosclerosis ≥ 1.5 mm was 34.7 %. Clinical characteristics were similar between groups 1 and 2: mean age (64 ± 9 vs. 62 ± 7.2 years, p = 0.1), male gender (40% vs. 41%, p = 0.9), hypertension (74% vs. 59%, p = 0.1), diabetes mellitus (54% vs. 35%, p = 0.051), dyslipidemia (26% vs. 24%, p = 0.8), smoking (57% vs. 65%, p = 0.4). The prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was higher in group 1 (48.6% vs. 28.9%, p = 0.04). Pearson’s correlation between ABI and IMT was -0.235, with a p value = 0.01. Conclusion: Patients with ABI ≤ 0.9 showed a higher prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis. There was a negative correlation between ABI and IMT (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2013; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).