Absolute Systolic Ankle Blood Pressure Versus Ankle–Brachial Index
Authors: Kirti Kain
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2014)

Letters21 January 2014Absolute Systolic Ankle Blood Pressure Versus Ankle–Brachial IndexKirti Kain, MDKirti Kain, MDFrom University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L14-5001-3 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:I read McDermott's editorial (1) with great interest. It might be a global imperative to conduct “a definitive randomized, controlled trial” to determine whether absolute systolic ankle blood pressure screening independent of systolic brachial blood pressure improves health outcomes in persons at risk for peripheral artery disease and cardiovascular disease. Peripheral artery disease can be defined by an abnormally low or high ankle–brachial index (ABI), and both increase cardiovascular mortality. Most studies define peripheral artery disease by an ABI less than 0.9. An ABI does not discriminate between the independent predictive values of systolic ankle blood pressure ...References1. McDermott MM. Ankle-brachial index screening to improve health outcomes: where is the evidence? [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2013;159:362-3. [PMID: 24026321] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Casagrande SS, Cowie CC, Fradkin JE. Utility of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force criteria for diabetes screening. Am J Prev Med. 2013;45:167-74. [PMID: 23867023] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Hietanen H, Pääkkönen R, Salomaa V. Ankle and exercise blood pressures as predictors of coronary morbidity and mortality in a prospective follow-up study. J Hum Hypertens. 2010;24:577-84. [PMID: 20090773] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Sutton-Tyrrell K, Venkitachalam L, Kanaya AM, Boudreau R, Harris T, Thompson T, et al. Relationship of ankle blood pressures to cardiovascular events in older adults. Stroke. 2008;39:863-9. [PMID: 18258843] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Kain K, Brockway M, Ishfaq T, Merrick M, Mahmood H, Ingoe JC, et al. Ankle pressures in UK South Asians with diabetes mellitus: a case control study. Heart. 2013;99:614-9. [PMID: 23442538] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.Disclosures: None disclosed. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L13-1071. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAnkle–Brachial Index Screening to Improve Health Outcomes: Where Is the Evidence? Mary McGrae McDermott Absolute Systolic Ankle Blood Pressure Versus Ankle–Brachial Index Mary McGrae McDermott Absolute Systolic Ankle Blood Pressure Versus Ankle–Brachial Index Mary McGrae McDermott Metrics Cited ByDifferential associations of ankle and brachial blood pressures with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases: cross-sectional study 21 January 2014Volume 160, Issue 2Page: 140-141KeywordsAnklesArteriesBlood pressureCardiovascular disease riskCardiovascular diseasesHealth economicsPopulation statisticsSystolic pressure ePublished: 21 January 2014 Issue Published: 21 January 2014 CopyrightCopyright © 2014 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...