A Single-Trust Service Evaluation to Identify if the Ankle Brachial Pressure Index Test Alone Can Accurately Diagnose Peripheral Atertial Disease
Suzzanna Leeming, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Overview
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic process caused by accumulation of fatty deposits on the walls of affected arteries (Morley et al., 2018). The presence of diabetes increases the risk fourfold of developing PAD. National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines (2018) recommend assessing suspected PAD by examining the femoral, popliteal and foot pulses using duplex ultrasound (DUS) and measuring the ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI). However, the sensitivity of ABPIs is varied in the general population, especially concerning diabetic patients and the influence of calcification associated with the condition (Chung et al., 2010; Jelinek, Thompson and Tinley, 2014). In 2018 NICE guidelines (CG147) changed to state ABPIs should not be interpreted in isolation and should not exclude a diagnosis of PAD in diabetic patients.