Ankle brachial pressure index and carotid intima-media thickness as atherosclerosis markers in Japanese diabetics.

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance of ankle brachial pressure index (ABI) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. ABI and ultrasonographic carotid IMT measurements were made in 1311 patients and the relationships between ABI, IMT, and cardiovascular diseases were examined. Patients were assigned to one of three groups depending on their ABI index: (i) ABI > or = 1.0; (ii) ABI from > or = 0.9 to < 1.0; and (iii) ABI < 0.9. The odds ratios (ORs) for groups (ii) and (iii) compared with (i) for the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disorder (CVD), and carotid atherosclerosis (mean carotid IMT > or = 1.1mm) demonstrated that these conditions were inversely related to ABI. As the combined ABI/carotid IMT score increased, each OR for the prevalence of CHD and CVD increased significantly. This suggests that a lower ABI is associated with generalized atherosclerosis. Measurements of the ABI and carotid IMT might provide a good prognostic indicator, and both should be assessed during screening for atherosclerosis in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.