Professional Practice Guide -FCSV-EN

15 for the Management of Peripheral Artery Disease Two results are obtained, one for each leg, and are generally proportional to the severity of PAD (Figure 2). When blood vessels are intact, arm and leg values are nearly identical and the ABI is approximately 1.0. An ABI of 0.9 or lower indicates the presence of PAD. The lower the ABI, the more severe the circulatory impairment and the more pronounced the symptoms. A lower ABI is also associated with increased mortality, as demonstrated by the San Diego Artery Study.³ Further diagnostic evaluation is then indicated. Ӌ Simple, low-cost, and non-invasive screening test ABI measurement is recommended in patients who: • Are 70 years of age or older • Are 50 to 69 years of age with a history of smoking or diabetes • Are under 50 years of age with a history of diabetes and at least one additional risk factor for atherosclerosis. • Present with symptoms (claudication, lower- limb pain during walking, or rest ischemia) • Show abnormal findings on vascular examination If the ABI is normal in a patient presenting with symptoms characteristic of PAD, a treadmill walking test is recommended. The ABI is recalculated immediately after exercise to detect a decrease. Two results are obtained, one for each leg, and are generally proportional to the severity of PAD