Asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes patients: a 10-year follow-up study of the utility of the ankle brachial index as a prognostic marker of cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease, diagnosed only by the ankle brachial index (ABI), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) after a 10-year follow-up period in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

In 1996, the ankle brachial index was measured in 262 patients with type 2 diabetes. During the 10-year follow-up period (mean follow-up time, 7.7 years), all nonfatal cardiovascular events and mortality were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 52 patients died during the follow-up time. The mortality of the patients with normal (0.91-1.24) and abnormal ABI (≤0.90) at the beginning of the study was 16.8% and 52.8%, respectively (p < 0.05). The incidence rate of fatal and nonfatal CVD was 26.9 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 20.7-37.3) for the patients with a normal baseline ABI and 81.9 (95% CI: 50.9-131.8) for those with an abnormal baseline ABI. An abnormal baseline ABI was associated with a greater risk of CVD (hazard ratio = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.27-4.22).

CONCLUSION

ABI values ≤0.9 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and no history of intermittent vascular claudication or rest pain were associated with a higher risk of coronary or cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality.