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The Ankle-Brachial Index Is Not Related to Mortality in Elderly Subjects Living in Nursing Homes

Department of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Section of Geriatrics, University of Turin, Italy, mario.bo{at}unito.it

Mauro Zanocchi, MD

Department of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Section of Geriatrics, University of Turin, Italy

Leone Poli, AP

Department of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Section of Geriatrics, University of Turin, Italy

Mario Molaschi, AP

Department of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Section of Geriatrics, University of Turin, Italy

Low ankle-brachial index (ABI) levels are associated with increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in middle-aged and older adults. We evaluated the association between low ABI and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in elderly patients living in nursing homes. In 632 subjects (mean age 82.1 ±7.4 years, 137 men) living in 3 municipal nursing homes, ABI, prevalent cardiovascular diseases, and conventional risk factors were evaluated at baseline in 1998. After a 3-year follow-up the relation between a low ABI and mortality outcomes was evaluated by using multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis. A low ABI (<0.90) was observed in 177 participants (28%). After 3 years, 304 subjects (48.1%) died; death occurred in 53.6% of those with low ABI and in 45.9% of those with normal ABI. No significant relation between low ABI and all-cause (hazard ratio [HR] 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7-2.0) or cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8-2.1) was observed. Among elderly patients living in nursing homes, there is a high prevalence of low ABI, which is not related to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Angiology, Vol. 56, No. 6, 693-697 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/000331970505600606


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