Relation between the ankle-brachial index and the complexity of coronary artery disease in older patients

Abstract

Background

In the elderly, the ankle-brachial index (ABI) has greater than 90% sensitivity and specificity for peripheral artery disease identification. A well-known relation exists between peripheral artery disease and the number of diseased coronary vessels. Yet, other anatomical characteristics have important impacts on the type of treatment and prognosis.

Purpose

To determine the relation between ABI and the complexity of coronary artery disease, by different anatomical classifications.

Methods

This study was a prospective analysis of patients ≥65 years old who were undergoing elective coronary angiography for ischemic coronary disease. The ABI was calculated for each leg, as the ratio between the lowest ankle pressure and the highest brachial pressure. The analysis of coronary anatomy was performed by three interventional cardiologists; it included classification of each lesion with >50% diameter stenosis, according to the American Heart Association criteria, and calculation of the SYNTAX score.

Results

The study recruited 204 consecutive patients (median age: 72.5 years). Stable angina was present in 51% of patients. Although only 1% of patients reported peripheral artery disease, 45% exhibited an abnormal ABI. The number of lesions per patient, the number of patients with complex lesions, and the median SYNTAX scores were greater in the group with abnormal ABI. However, among 144 patients with obstructive coronary artery disease, despite abnormal ABI being able to identify a higher rate of patients with B2 or C type lesions (70.9% versus 53.8%; P=0.039), the mean SYNTAX scores (13 versus 9; P=0.14), and the proportion of patients with SYNTAX score >16 (34.2% versus 27.7%; P=0.47), were similar, irrespective of ABI.

Conclusion

In patients ≥65 years old the presence of peripheral artery disease could discriminate a group of patients with greater occurrence of B2 and C type lesions, but similar median SYNTAX score.

Keywords:

• ankle-brachial index
• coronary artery disease
• peripheral artery disease
• elderly health

Introduction

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an important marker of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with prevalence that increases progressively with age. The prevalence of PAD ranges from 1%–3%, in the fourth or fifth decade of life, to greater than 20% in the eighth decade.^1,2 The ankle-brachial index (ABI), which is a noninvasive and inexpensive measurement used to identify PAD in the elderly population, has remarkably high sensitivity and specificity (>90%, for each), compared against invasive angiography.³

ABI, as a marker of PAD, has been widely used to predict coronary artery disease (CAD).^1,4–8 Moreover, obstructive atherosclerotic lesions in at least one coronary artery have been reported in 60%–80% of patients with PAD who had undergone cardiac catheterization.⁹ These patients had more extensive and calcified lesions, suggesting a more aggressive form of atherosclerosis.^10–12

The anatomical complexity of CAD, and the number of vessels affected, influence the type of treatment that is offered to patients, and have an impact on short- and long-term prognosis. In recent years, the need for objective measurements to identify CAD has spurred the development of several angiographic scores.^13–15 Over the last few years, the SYNTAX score (SS) has become the most widely used angiographic score, because it can guide the most appropriate type of revascularization (percutaneous or surgical) for each individual, and it also provides prognostic information for mid-term follow-up after revascularization.¹⁶

This study aimed to report a detailed description of coronary anatomical markers in older patients, with and without PAD, and to compare the results with published data on general populations.

Methods

We performed a single-center prospective cross-sectional study. The study recruited patients ≥65 years old who had been admitted to The Federal University of São Paulo consecutively between September 2011 and July 2012 for coronary angiography for ischemic coronary disease (silent ischemia, stable angina, or acute coronary syndromes [ACS] without ST segment elevation). Patients were excluded if they had ACS with ST elevation, creatinine clearance of ≤30 mL per minute, or if blood pressure could not be measured in one limb, for any reason. Patients were included in the study after signing an informed consent form. This study was approved by the institutional review board of the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil (Study number: CEP 1299/11).

ABI was measured immediately before coronary angiography. After the patient had rested for at least 5 minutes in a supine position, measurement was performed using a portable ultrasound Doppler (DV 610B; Medmega®, São Paulo, Brazil) and an Innova aneroid sphygmomanometer (BIC®, São Paulo, Brazil), with cuff inflators appropriate for brachial circumference. Systolic blood pressure measurements of the brachial, tibial posterior, and dorsalis pedis arteries were taken on both sides of the limb. ABI was calculated as the ratio between the lowest ankle systolic pressure and the highest brachial systolic pressure.^17,18 ABI was determined for each leg, and the lowest value was considered for analysis. The patients were divided into two groups, according to ABI (Group 1: ABI ≤0.9; Group 2 [normal]: ABI >0.9). Although ABI >1.3 is considered abnormal, none of our patients reached this value.

Coronary angiography was performed using conventional techniques, and analyzed by three experienced interventional cardiologists, who were blinded to clinical data. Consensus was required between at least two of them. CAD was defined as single vessel or multivessel disease, according to the number of epicardial arteries with at least one lesion measuring ≥50% diameter stenosis. Each coronary lesion measuring ≥50% diameter stenosis was classified according to its complexity into types A, B1 (one type B characteristic), B2 (two or more type B characteristics), or C, according to the criteria of the American Heart Association. This classification is based on success rates for the percutaneous approach, with lower success rates reported for B2 and C type lesions.¹⁹

Calculation of the SYNTAX score

The SS evaluates stenosis that has caused a reduction of more than 50% in luminal diameter, in vessels of 1.5 mm or larger diameter. The number and extent of lesions, the tortuosity of the affected segments, the presence of thrombus or calcification, total occlusion, and involvement of bifurcation or trifurcation were evaluated. The lesions to be considered for analysis were identified and selected by consensus. Each selected lesion was then scored, according to its complexity. The SS is the sum of the individual scores for each lesion, and was calculated using SYNTAX Score Calculator software version 2.11 (SYNTAX Score Working Group, www.syntaxscore.com).

In the Syntax Trial,¹⁶ the study which was responsible for development of the SS, only patients with three-vessel or left main CAD were included, resulting in terciles with high values, compared with “all comers” studies. Nevertheless, these values are widely used as a tool to choose between surgical (SS ≥33) or percutaneous (SS <22) revascularization. Studies that include patients with one- and two-vessel disease provide a more appropriate, “real world” sample population, and yield terciles that compare appropriately to our group. At least two large trials included patients with stable and unstable coronary syndromes, allowing for proper comparison; both yielded similar tercile levels, with patients in the highest level having SS >16.^20,21 One study, which included only patients with non-ST elevation ACS, yielded slightly lower tercile and average values.²² These studies have demonstrated the value of the SS, as a prognostic tool for mid-term follow-up; the higher the SYNTAX Score, the greater the risk for late events after revascularization.^16,20–22 Next, we compared the rates for SS >33, and SS >16, in our population, and whether there was accordance with ABI results.

Statistical analysis

Continuous variables were expressed as means with standard deviations, or as medians with 25th and 75th percentiles, according to the presence or absence of a normal distribution, as determined by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The Mann–Whitney test and Student’s t-test were used for analyzing continuous variables, in accordance with the distribution. Categorical variables were expressed as absolute numbers with percentages. Fisher’s exact test, or the chi-square test, was used for categorical variables.

A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify potential independent predictors of CAD, multivessel disease, and the presence of B2 or C type lesions in the overall population. Odds ratios (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to quantify the analyses. The variables included in the model were: age, sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking status, and ABI measurement. SPSS® version 20.0 statistical software (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for all analyses. A final P-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 204 patients were recruited, with a median age of 72.5 years (interquartile range: 68–77 years). Although only 1% of patients reported PAD, 45% had an abnormal ABI. None showed an ABI greater than 1.3. We observed a higher number of female patients, and patients with ACS, in Group 1 (patients with abnormal ABI of ≤0.9). Other clinical characteristics are summarized in Table 1. ABI had a sensitivity of 76.7%, and a specificity of 55%, for predicting obstructive CAD, with an efficacy similar to the treadmill test.²³

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the patients in each group

Variables	Total sample: 204 (100%)		P-value
	Group 1 ABI ≤0.9 (N=93)	Group 2 ABI >0.9 (N=111)
ABIa	0.73 (0.57–0.81)	1.03 (0.98–1.10)	NA
Agea (years)	74 (69–78)	71 (67–76)	0.057
Female sex	53 (56.9%)	46 (41.4%)	0.027
Systemic hypertension	86 (92.4%)	98 (88.2%)	0.317
Diabetes mellitus	36 (38.7%)	36 (32.4%)	0.35
Dyslipidemia	50 (53.7%)	59 (53.1%)	0.931
Smoking	33 (35.4%)	26 (23.4%)	0.058
Acute coronary syndrome	64 (68.8%)	36 (32.4%)	0.0001

Note:

a Values expressed as median and interquartile range.

Abbreviations: ABI, ankle-brachial index; NA, not applicable.

In the overall study population, ABI of ≤0.9 was strongly associated with the presence of CAD (OR =2.43; CI: 1.47–4.03; P=0.0001). Patients in Group 1 more often exhibited multivessel disease (OR =2.63; CI: 1.48–4.67; P=0.001) and B2 or C type lesions (OR =3.28; CI: 1.84–5.85; P=0.0001), compared with those in Group 2. The median SS in the general population was 7; it was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (12 versus 3; P<0.001) (Table 2).

Table 2 Angiographic characteristics of patients in each group

Variables	Total sample: 204 (100%)		P-value
	Group 1 ABI ≤0.9 (N=93)	Group 2 ABI >0.9 (N=111)
Without CAD	14 (15%)	46 (41.4%)	<0.0001
Median number of lesions per patient	2 (1–3)	1 (0–2)	<0.0001
Multivessel	50 (53.7%)	34 (30.6%)	0.001
Patients with B2- or C-type lesions	56 (60.2%)	35 (31.5%)	<0.0001
SYNTAX score	12 (5–17.5)	3 (0–12)	<0.0001

Note: The figures for Median number of lesions per patient and SYNTAX score are expressed as median and interquartile range.

Abbreviations: CAD, coronary artery disease; ABI, ankle-brachial index.

Obstructive CAD was observed in 144 patients (70.6%). Of these, 79 patients (54.8%) had abnormal ABI values. The number of patients with multivessel disease was slightly greater (66% versus 50%; P=0.05), and rates of complex lesions (B2 or C type) were significantly higher (70.9% versus 53.8%; P=0.039) in Group 1, compared with Group 2.

Considering only patients with obstructive coronary disease, median SS values and rates of SS >16 were similar in both groups (Table 3). Considering only patients with multivessel disease, the proportion of patients with SS ≥33 was only 8% among Group 1, and was zero in Group 2 (P=0.1).

Table 3 Angiographic characteristics of patients with coronary artery disease

Variables	Population with CAD: 144 (70.6%)		P-value
	Group 1 ABI ≤0.9 (N=79)	Group 2 ABI >0.9 (N=65)
Median number of lesions per patient	2 (1–3)	3 (1–3)	0.061
Left main involvement	5 (6.3%)	3 (4.6%)	0.65
Multivessel	50 (63.2%)	34 (52.3%)	0.23
Patients with B2- or C-type lesions	56 (70.8%)	35 (53.8%)	0.039
SYNTAX scorea	13 (7–18)	9 (5–19.5)	0.148
SYNTAX score ≥13b	47 (59.4%)	28 (43%)	0.04
SYNTAX score >16c	27 (34.1%)	18 (27.6%)	0.471
SYNTAX score >17d	23 (29.1%)	18 (27.6%)	0.851
SYNTAX score ≥33e	4 (8%)	0 (0%)	0.143

Notes:

a Median SYNTAX score in the population with CAD =12 (range: 5.25–18.75)

b highest tertile of SYNTAX score in Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy (ACUITY) trial

c highest tertile of SYNTAX score in Limus Eluted from A Durable versus ERodable Stent coating (LEADERS) trial

d highest tertile of SYNTAX score in RESOLUTE trial

e highest tertile of SYNTAX score in Syntax Trial, including only patients with multivessel disease. The figures for Median number of lesions per patient and SYNTAX score are expressed as median and interquartile range.

Abbreviations: CAD, coronary artery disease; ABI, ankle-brachial index.

Discussion

The risk of CAD can be estimated on the basis of multiple markers of atherosclerotic disease. Early identification of atherosclerosis, in any vascular bed, indicates high cardiac risk. Carotid intimal media thickening and high calcium scores, for example, have been associated with higher prevalence of CAD.^24–26 More appropriate use of ABI to diagnose PAD has been well established in the literature. It has the benefit that it can be performed quickly by health care professionals, sparing advanced diagnostic methods.^1,4–6 In a prospective study of 165 patients undergoing elective cardiac catheterization, ABI was correlated with the number of coronary vessels with obstructive lesions, and with the angiographic Gensini score.¹¹ This relation also exists in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization on an urgent or emergency basis. In a multivariate analysis, pathological ABI was significantly associated with the risk of multivessel disease in patients with ACS (OR =1.58; CI: 1.16–2.15; P<0.05).¹²

Our study investigated the anatomic characteristics in a high-risk group (older than 65 years, and referred for coronary angiography) and included the ABI as a further indicator of atherosclerotic involvement. Our use of a more sensitive method for calculating ABI resulted in superior detection of CAD prevalence in Group 1; hence, ABI is a good discriminator for the presence and severity of disease in the older general population. Other trials have shown similar incidences of PAD in patients with CAD.^27,28

Patients with and without abnormal ABI had similar demographic characteristics. However, the frequency of ACS was higher in patients with abnormal ABI (68% versus 32%; P=0.0001). The presence of PAD, irrespective of the diagnostic criteria used, is related to an increased risk of developing ACS. The relative risk of myocardial infarction varies from 1.2 to 4.7 in several series.^29–32 PAD is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular events, even compared to the prior existence of CAD as a predictor.³³ Moreover, the association of PAD and ACS increases by 60% the probability of progression to congestive heart failure.⁶

Suitable characterization of coronary anatomy is essential in the selection of a revascularization strategy (percutaneous or surgical), especially in high surgical risk groups. Evaluation of coronary complexity by the number of vessels involved (single or multivessel disease) is flawed; a patient may present various complex lesions in a single vessel, or have several lesions of low complexity, or without clinical significance, in multiple vessels. With the development of percutaneous intervention, which has allowed complex lesions to be treated with high success rates, the SS was created as a tool to quantify anatomical complexity, when percutaneous or surgical myocardial revascularization is being considered. In general, patients with high SS (≥33 in multivessel disease, or >16 in non-3-vessel disease patients) have a greater risk of cardiovascular events after angioplasty, in comparison to events after surgery.^16,22,34 Aside from evaluating the angiographic characteristics of each lesion, the SS also considers the proportion of ischemic myocardium that is at risk from stenosis. This is one reason that may explain the prognostic suitability of the SS, as higher scores correspond to larger ischemic areas.

Several previous reports showed a clear inverse relation between ABI and SS. Korkmaz et al, after evaluating 150 patients with ACS, irrespective of age, showed that patients with ABI ≤0.9 had a higher SS, compared with patients with ABI of 1.0–1.09 (17.8±9.1 versus 12.5±5.9; P<0.001).³⁵ In a recent study, Ikeda et al selected 496 Asian coronary angiography patients, with a mean age of 69.2±11.4 years, and compared ABI against SS. They reported mean values of SS similar to ours for the abnormal ABI group.³⁶ However, an analysis was not performed for patients with CAD only. Benyakorn et al also demonstrated a significant negative correlation between ABI and SS, but theirs was a different population, which included a large proportion of patients with valvular disease, and included all age groups.³⁷

Because of the higher surgical risk and the high frequency of comorbidities in elderly patients, percutaneous treatment is favored over surgical treatment. Therefore, the ability to closely predict coronary anatomy is important. In this series, with the first record of a correlation between ABI and the complexity of CAD in elderly patients, the use of the SS as a quantitation tool for the disease has also helped us to understand the context of medical practice by which angioplasty has been used more often in elderly patients.³⁸ Once low rates (only 8%) of high anatomic risk patients among those with multivessel disease are observed, the percutaneus intervention may be a good choice in a vast portion of this population.

In the present study, the statistical correlation between ABI and SS was lost when analyzing only patients with obstructive CAD (13 versus 9; P=0.148), probably reflecting more extensive disease in the elderly in both groups. The similar frequencies, between groups, of patients with SS >16, and SS >17 (the last terciles of the Limus Eluted from A Durable versus ERodable Stent coating (LEADERS)²⁰ and RESOLUTE²¹ trials, respectively) may indicate a need to establish specific values for predict cardiac events in the elderly. Within the realms of modern percutaneous intervention, ABI did not identify in this population a subpopulation in which percutaneous revascularization could not be considered – particularly if we contemplate a scenario in which functional revascularization is accessible, and would reduce the number of vessels to be treated.³⁹

This small exploratory study has many limitations, including the small number of patients and the lack of clinical follow-up. The inclusion of patients who had been referred for coronary angiography selected a population with a higher incidence of coronary heart disease and PAD. Therefore, these results, in a population of asymptomatic elderly patients, should be interpreted with caution. The finding that SS was consistent with the proper indication for percutaneous intervention, in a large proportion of patients, confirms previous clinical observations. However, its significance can only be affirmed in randomized studies specifically designed for this purpose.

Conclusions

Abnormal ABI is a marker of coronary complexity, even in high risk elderly patients. Similar frequencies of patients with CAD, in the highest terciles of the SS, between those with, and without, abnormal ABI, are unexpected data, which should be explored in appropriately-sized studies.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.