Association between the Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index and Diabetes Mellitus-Related Peripheral Arterial Disease in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has increased in association with the increase in the numbers of patients with kidney disease or diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of PAD in hemodialysis patients with diabetes. Methods: To examine the usefulness of the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) to screen for the presence of PAD, cross-sectional studies of 100 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis were performed. The CAVI and other inflammatory markers were evaluated. Results: The CAVI was markedly elevated in patients with a history of PAD or cardiovascular disease. When dialysis patients were classified on the basis of CAVI quartiles, increased CAVI was associated with other risk factors for PAD. Conclusion: The prevalence of PAD is high in elderly diabetic patients on hemodialysis. The present findings suggest that the CAVI can be a useful index that predicts the occurrence of macrovascular complications in dialysis patients with diabetes.