Predictive value of ankle-brachial index, toe-brachial index and toe blood pressure in patients with diabetes Valor pronóstico del índice tobillo-brazo, el índice dedo-brazo y la presión arterial del dedo en el paciente con diabetes

Introduction: Patients with diabetes have a higher frequency of vascular peripheral disease. Objective: To evaluate, in the diabetic patients, the usefulness of the ankle-brachial index, the toe-brachial index and the toe blood pressure to predict the risk of later appearance of a vascular event in lower extremities. Material and methods: We measured the ankle-brachial index (ABI) the toe-brachial index (TBI) and the toe blood pressure in 123 patients with diabetes. We compared the mean value of these parameters between patients with and without vascular event. We analyzed the predictive value of this parameters and the independent contribution of each one of them. Results: The mean value of TBI, ABI and toe blood pressure were significantly lower in patients who had a vascular event. The patients with ischemia by ABI, ischemia by TBI and with lower value of toe blood pressure have an increased risk of presenting a vascular event. Only ischemia by ankle-brachial index, toe brachial index and toe blood pressure were independent predictors of later appearance of a vascular event. Conclusions: The usefulness of ankle-brachial index, toe brachial index and toe blood pressure to predict a vascular event in patients with diabetes has been demonstrated. In addition, ankle-brachial index and toe blood pressure have an independent predictive value.