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Polyvascular Subclinical Atherosclerosis: Correlation Between Ankle Brachial Index and Carotid Atherosclerosis in a

Maria Del Mar Vila1,2,3, Laura Igual3, Beatriz Remeseiro4

  • 1Consortium for Biomedical Research - Cardiovascular Diseases (CIBERCV), Barcelona, Spain.

Angiology
|June 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

This study found differing associations between lower limb and carotid artery atherosclerosis biomarkers in men and women. Men showed a linear link between ankle-brachial index and carotid intima-media thickness, while women with peripheral artery disease had a higher risk of carotid plaque.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Epidemiology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis affects both peripheral and carotid arteries, increasing cardiovascular risk.
  • Subclinical biomarkers can indicate early-stage disease.
  • Understanding the relationship between lower limb and carotid atherosclerosis is crucial for risk stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between lower limb atherosclerosis biomarkers (ankle-brachial index) and carotid atherosclerosis biomarkers (common carotid intima-media thickness, plaque presence).
  • To analyze sex-specific associations between these biomarkers in a population-based cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort of 3307 individuals from Girona, Spain, recruited in 2010.
  • Assessment of ankle-brachial index and carotid ultrasound (intima-media thickness, plaque) in all participants.
  • Statistical analysis using generalized additive and logistic regression models, adjusted for confounders.

Main Results:

  • A significant linear association was observed between ankle-brachial index and common carotid intima-media thickness in men.
  • Women with peripheral artery disease demonstrated a significantly higher risk of developing carotid atherosclerotic plaque.
  • Two distinct patterns of association were identified between lower limb and carotid atherosclerosis biomarkers, varying by sex.

Conclusions:

  • Sex-specific differences exist in the relationship between lower limb and carotid atherosclerosis.
  • Ankle-brachial index and common carotid intima-media thickness are linearly associated in men.
  • Peripheral artery disease in women is a strong predictor of carotid plaque presence, highlighting the need for targeted screening.

Keywords:
ankle-brachial indexatherosclerosisepidemiologyintima-media thicknesssubclinical cardiovascular disease

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