The ankle-brachial index in the elderly and risk of @entity64 , XXXX , and @entity204 : the Framingham Study.

@entity1 @entity64 @entity301 @entity63 @entity204 @entity65
BACKGROUND: A low ankle-brachial index (ABI) is associated with an increased risk of @entity204 and @entity65 . Limited data exist regarding the relation between a low ABI and @entity64 . We sought to examine the relation between a low ABI and @entity64 , @entity301 , and @entity204 in the elderly. METHODS: We examined 251 @entity1 and 423 @entity1 with a mean age of 80 years who had a Framingham Study examination from 1994 to 1995. A low ABI was defined as less than 0.9. @entity1 were followed up for 4 years for occurrence of @entity64 or transient @entity63 attack, @entity301 , and @entity204 . Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the relation between a low ABI and each outcome after adjusting for age, sex, and prevalent @entity65 . RESULTS: A low ABI was detected in 20% of our sample. Only 18% of the @entity1 with a low ABI reported claudication symptoms. One third of those with a normal ABI and 55% of those with a low ABI had @entity65 at baseline. Results of multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the risk of @entity64 or transient @entity63 attack in @entity1 with a low ABI (hazards ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.7). No significant relation between a low ABI and @entity301 (hazards ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-2.1) or @entity204 (hazards ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-2.1) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A low ABI is associated with risk of @entity64 or transient @entity63 attack in the elderly. These results need to be confirmed in larger studies.
