Risk Factors Related to Low Ankle-Brachial Index Measured by Traditional and Modified Definition in Hypertensive Elderly Patients

Table 3

Blood pressure levels and drugs in use in normal and low ankle-brachial index (ABI) groups divided by American Heart Association (AHA) definition and by modified definition.

Variable	AHA definition			Modified definition
	ABI > 0.9; (𝑛=53)	ABI ≤ 0.9; (𝑛=12)	𝑃 value	ABI > 0.9; (𝑛=44)	ABI ≤ 0.9; (𝑛=21)	𝑃 value
Systolic BP, mmHg	152±3	169±9	<0.05	150±3	164±6	<0.05
Diastolic BP, mmHg	84±1	83±4	NS	83±1	85±3	NS
Pulse pressure, mmHg	67±2	87±7	<0.01	67	78	<0.05
Total of drugs in use	3.3±0.3	6.3±1.1	<0.001	3.2±0.3	5.1±0.7	<0.01
(i) Acetylsalicylic acid	13 (24.5%)	8 (66.5%)	<0.01	9 (20.5%)	12 (57.1%)	<0.01
(ii) Statins	10 (19%)	3 (25%)	NS	7 (15.9%)	5 (23.8%)	NS
Antihypertensive drugs	1.9±0.1	2.6±0.4	<0.05	1.9±0.1	2.4±0.2	<0.05
(i) ACE inhibitors/ARB	30 (56%)	10 (83%)	NS	26 (59.1%)	14 (66.6%)	NS
(ii) Calcium antagonists	11 (21%)	8 (67%)	<0.01	9 (20.5%)	10 (47.6%)	<0.05
(iii) Beta-blockers	12 (23%)	5 (41%)	NS	9 (20.5%)	8 (38.1%)	NS
(iv) Diuretics	25 (48%)	5 (41%)	NS	21 (47.7%)	9 (42.9%)	NS

Data are expressed as mean ± SEM or 𝑛 (%) when appropriate. BP: blood pressure; ACE: angiotensin converting enzyme; ARB: angiotensin receptor blockers; NS: nonsignificant.