Low Ankle Brachial Indices Reflect Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction: A Potential Explanation for Co-Existing Heart Failure and Peripheral Artery Disease?-Juniper Publishers
JUNIPER PUBLISHERS - OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY & CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY Abstract Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a growing health concern in the United States due to its rising prevalence, negative impact on functional disability and increased risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Less widely appreciated is that PAD is associated with nearly double the prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) and that 17% of heart failure patients have co-existing PAD. Multiple reasons may account for co-existing PAD and CHF. The prevalence of each disorder rises with age and they share common risk factors as well as metabolic disturbances. In addition, while ankle brachial index (ABI) testing has long been the primary modality used to detect PAD, there is accumulating evidence that low ABI values may reflect left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and reduced ejection fraction (EF). The low ABI-low EF relation appears independent of CAD and may in part...