Aplicación práctica del índice tobillo-brazo

Atherosclerosis is a systemic and progressive disease clinically manifested by the presence of coronary, cerebrovascular or peripheral artery disease. Subjects with atherosclerosis in one vascular bed are at high risk of future vascular complications in a different territory. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a straightforward and noninvasive method, with a high sensibility and specificity for the diagnosis of lower limb arterial disease. An ABI below 0,9 identifies a high risk individual, with an elevated probability of coronary and/or cerebrovascular events and so, candidate for agressive preventive measures. ABI measurement is recommeded in all subjects older than 50 years and with multiple cardiovascular risks factors, mainly those with an intermediate risk according to traditional risk ecuations.