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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Ankle-Brachial Index as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Risk in Atrial Fibrillation

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Objectives: Atrial Fibrillation (AF), the most frequent sustained arrhythmia, is associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The clinical course of AF is often complicated by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events that usually have a dual origin: cardio embolic and atherothrombotic. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the existence of a relationship between Systemic Atherosclerosis and AF. More specifically, we have analysed the prevalence of lower limb Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) in a population of fibrillating patients, and we have assessed whether the coexistence of AF and PAD might result in increased cardiovascular risks. Methods: The study has been conducted on 200 patients, consecutively engaged, divided into patients with and without AF. All patients were subjected to a cardiovascular risk profile evaluation, a measurement of Ankle-Brachial- Index (ABI), and an estimation of the prevalence of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events. Results: The obtained results showed that the prevalence of PAD is higher in patients with AF, and these patients have also shown a higher prevalence of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events. In addition, stratifying cases and controls according to the presence of PAD, we showed that there’s a higher prevalence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events in people with both conditions associated. Conclusions: The results affirm that patients with a history of AF have a higher rate of cerebrovascular disease, and patients with PAD and AF have a higher rate of coronary disease, suggesting that measurements of ABI and diagnosis and search for AF should be encouraged.