Colesterol HDL bajo: un factor lipídico asociado a índice tobillo brazo (ITB) patológico

Early intervention on cardiovascular risk factors is essential. To achieve this objective, effective and accessible tools for early diagnosis must be found. Prevention should begin in primary care. This study included 110 patients selected by random sampling of a primary care center: men older than 50 years and women older than 60 years at low or moderate coronary risk (1-20% according to Framingham tables). After comparing the distinct variables among patients with a pathological or normal ankle-brachial index (ABI), statistically significant differences (p = 0.047) were found in relation to the association of low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and pathological ABI; the prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher in patients with a pathological ABI. Therefore, we conclude that calculation of the ABI to study subclinical atheromatosis in patients with low HDL-cholesterol levels is useful for early diagnosis.