Key result
Low ABI occurs in up to ~26% of healthy young adults without indicating underlying vascular abnormalities.
Cross-Sectional (n=641)
In healthy young adults, standard cutoffs for abnormal ABI (<1.0) and TBI (<0.7) are frequently observed, suggesting age and sex must be considered when interpreting these vascular indices.
May warrant cautious ABI interpretation in young adults; leaves open validation of age- and sex-specific thresholds.
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the characteristics of ankle-brachial index (ABI), toe-brachial index (TBI), and pulse volume recording (PVR) of the ankle with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in healthy young adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed ABI, TBI, baPWV, and PVR in the ankle of healthy adults aged 20 to 25 years (median, 20 years) using an automatic oscillometric device between 2002 and 2013. The ABI, baPWV, and PVR in 1282 legs of 641 subjects (301 men and 340 women) and the TBI in 474 toes of 237 subjects (117 men and 120 women) were evaluated. RESULTS: The measured values showed no bilateral differences. ABI and baPWV were higher in men than in women, but TBI was similar in both sexes. ABI <1.0 was observed in 18.1% of the legs in men and in 25.6% in women. TBI <0.7 was observed in 16.2% of the toes in men and 19.1% in women. For ankle PVR, the % mean arterial pressure was higher in women than in men. The upstroke time was <180 ms in most subjects. CONCLUSIONS: For young people, ABI <1.0 or TBI <0.7 may not always indicate vascular abnormalities. When evaluating circulatory indexes, age and sex should be considered.
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Watanabe et al. (2015) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy young adults (n=641). Circulatory index measurement (ABI, TBI, baPWV, PVR) was evaluated on Characteristics of ABI, TBI, baPWV, and PVR. Evaluation of circulatory indexes in healthy young adults showed ABI <1.0 in 18.1% of men and 25.6% of women, indicating these thresholds may not always represent vascular abnormalities.
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