女性代谢综合征患者踝臂指数与全因及心血管病死亡的关系

目的 研究踝臂指数(ABI)与女性代谢综合征(MS)患者全因死亡与心血管病(CVD)死亡之间的关系.方法 符合国际糖尿病学会(IDF,2005)MS诊断标准的女性MS患者1049例入选.进行ABI的测量及平均13.6月随访.按ABI水平的不同将研究对象分为外周动脉疾病(PAD)组(ABI≤0.9,共259例)和非PAD组(ABI在0.91～1.40之间,共790例).结果 在基线水平,PAD组的年龄、高血压患病率、收缩压水平、糖尿病患病率、吸烟率均高于非PAD组(P＜0.05).PAD组与非PAD组的全因死亡率分别为10.4%和4.4%(P＜0.01),CVD死亡率分别为4.6%和1.6%(P＜0.01).ABI最高第4分位(≤0.40)较最低的第1分位(1.00～1.40)全因死亡增加3.7倍(P=0.012),心血管病死亡率虽有增加但无显著性.通过COX回归分析,调整年龄、高血压史、糖尿病史、吸烟等因素后,显示全因死亡和CVD死亡的相对危险仍呈同样趋势.结论 低ABI是预测女性MS患者全因死亡的独立性危险因素,女性MS患者早期常规接受ABI检查,积极预防和治疗PAD对提高生存率具有重要价值.     

女性多重动脉硬化患者踝臂指数与全因死亡和心血管疾病死亡关系的群组研究

目的研究具有动脉硬化危险因素的女性住院患者的踝臂指数(ankle-brachial index,ABI)与全因死亡和心血管疾病(CVD)死亡的关系。方法收集2004年7月至2005年1月上海和北京多中心连续内科住院患者中具有2个或2个以上动脉硬化危险因素的女性患者1744例,年龄35~95岁,进行基线特征调查并平均随访(11.8±0.4)个月。结果ABI≤0.90诊断外周动脉疾病(PAD)者492例,ABI为0.91~1.40者1252例为非PAD,PAD组的年龄、高血压史、收缩压、血脂紊乱史、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、糖尿病史、空腹血糖、吸烟史、全因病死率和CVD病死率均高于非PAD组,差异有显著性意义。全因病死率和CVD病死率分别在重度PAD组、轻度至中度PAD组、临界组和正常对照组中的差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。采用Cox回归分析后,重度PAD组全因死亡的RR为4.429(95%CI:2.144~9.149),CVD死亡的RR为6.215(95%CI:1.831~21.099),轻至中度PAD组CVD死亡的RR为2.024(95%CI:1.117~3.664)。PAD组的存活率显著低于非PAD组(P<0.001)。结论低踝臂指数是具有多重动脉硬化危险因素的女性患者全因死亡和CVD死亡的独立危险因素,尤其是CVD死亡,ABI越低,CVD死亡危险性越高。     

男性糖尿病患者踝臂指数与全因和心血管病死亡率关系的前瞻性研究

目的研究男性糖尿病患者外周动脉疾病（PDA）的危险因素及踝臂指数（ABI）与全因和心血管病（CVD）死亡率的关系。方法研究对象来自2004年7月至2005年1月北京及上海地区8所医院的有完整ABI基线资料的男性糖尿病患者815例，于2005年11月至2006年1月对其进行随访调查。结果815例男性糖尿病患者中，ABI降低的PAD组250例（30．67％），ABI正常的非PAD组565例（69．33％），年龄和吸烟史是PAD的独立危险因素，在13．6个月的随访中，有70例死亡，其中27例为CVD死亡。经Cox回归分析，PAD患者发生全因及CVD死亡的相对危险度分别为1．744（1．056—2．877）和3．677（1．588～8．509）。PAD组的生存率显著低于非PAD组。随ABI水平的降低，发生死亡及CVD死亡的危险增加。结论低ABI是男性糖尿病患者死亡和CVD死亡的独立危险因素，在男性糖尿病人群中运用无创性ABI测定对全因死亡及CVD。死亡具有预测价值。     

中国自然人群下肢外周动脉疾病患病率及相关危险因素

目的 调查中国自然人群下肢外周动脉疾病(peripheral arterial disease,PAD)患病率及相关危险因素,为开展下肢动脉粥样硬化的预防提供科学依据.方法 采用分层整群随机抽样的方法,选取北京、上海、长沙、广东、内蒙古和新疆地区的社区自然人群作为研究对象,由培训过的医师对调查对象进行踝臂指数(ankle brachial index,ABI)测量和资料收集.任一侧肢体ABI≤0.9诊断为PAD.结果 在21 152例受试者中,PAD患病率3.08%,标化患病率3.04%;男性PAD患病率2.52%,标化患病率1.84%;女性PAD患病率3.66%,标化患病率4.31%,男性PAD患病率低于女性(P相似文献   

踝肱指数评价老年男性高血压患者下肢动脉病变的临床意义

目的通过测量踝肱指数（ABI）评价老年男性高血压患者下肢外周动脉病（PAD）的患病情况,并对发生高血压和PAD的共同危险因素进行评价。方法选取我院老年男性高血压患者264例,按ABI〈0.9者入选PAD组（88例）,ABI≥0.9者为非PAD组（176例）。比较两组患者年龄、身高、体质量、血压、ABI、BMI、共患病情况及是否吸烟等指标。结果 264例患者中ABI异常88例,检出率为33.3%。PAD组的冠心病、高脂血症、糖尿病、吸烟的检出率分别为77.27%、35.22%、51.13%6、5.90%,高于非PAD组的62.50%2、1.59%、33.52%和19.88%,P值分别为0.018,0.025,0.0070,.000。通过PAD患病率危险因素Logistic回归分析,年龄、冠心病、高脂血症、糖尿病、吸烟为独立危险因素（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）。结论老年男性高血压患者有较高的PAD发生率,其合并有冠心病、高脂血症、糖尿病、吸烟的检出率远高于非PAD高血压患者。ABI可用于早期诊断其下肢血管病变。     

长春市公安系统公务员代谢综合征患病率与性别、年龄及相关疾病的关系

目的分析代谢综合征(MS)患病率与年龄、性别及高血压(HBP)、脑血管疾病(CVD)、糖尿病(T2DM)的关系。方法收集2010年1¹2月在该院体检中心体检的吉林省公安厅公务员804名的体检数据,分析MS患病率与年龄、性别及与相关疾病的关系。结果男性MS的发病率显著高于女性。按年龄分组,随着年龄增长MS患病率呈上升趋势,老年组MS患病率最高。青、中年组中男性MS患病率明显高于女性;老年组MS患病率随性别差异不明显。MS组中HBP、CVD、T2DM患病率较非MS组(P<0.05);且不同性别中,HBP、CVD、T2DM患病率MS组较非MS组高(P<0.05)。结论不同性别、年龄人群MS患病率存在差异。MS可增加HBP、CVD、T2DM的患病风险,且女性较明显。     

永平铜矿职工心血管危险因素调查分析

目的:了解永平铜矿职工人群心血管病危险因素的流行现状。方法:2008年和2005年分别对职工健康体检2次,并进行性别、年龄等分组危险因素描述分析。结果:2008年与2005年比较高血压、糖尿病、高胆固醇血症(TC)、高甘油三脂血症及高尿酸(UA)血症患病率呈上升趋势,高血压标化患病率为15.05%,随年龄增大而增高。高血压1级构成减少12.58%,2、3级比例增加10.70%和1.90%,男性舒张压、高UA组及女性高TC组平均水平增高。≤44岁青年组高血压患病率增高1.28%,≥45岁中老年龄组心血管疾病(CVD)危险因素患病率增高。男性、中老年组主要危险因素患病率显著高于女性、青年组。高血压组中糖调节受损、糖尿病、血脂异常及高UA血症患病率均显著高于血压正常组(P<0.01),糖尿病合并高血压为37.91%,高血压组中≥2~3项危险因素的人数增多。结论:本研究提示高血压高危和极高危人群增加,是本矿现阶段高血压防治的重点,应加强对职工人群CVD危险因素的监测和社区干预。     

2种代谢综合征诊断标准在中国高血压人群中的比较

目的比较中国糖尿病学会(CDS)及国际糖尿病联盟(IDF)的代谢综合征(MS)标准在中国高血压人群的应用。方法分别依据 CDS 和 IDF 标准对 HOT-CHINA 临床研究入选患者(n=58 289)的基础资料进行再次分析(n=17 861),研究不同标准下 MS 患病率,及其与年龄、性别、血压水平的关系。结果提示1)依据 CDS 和IDF 标准我国高血压人群 MS 患病率分别为42.2%,46.3%。IDF 标准诊断率高(P<0.01);2)根据两种标准诊断的各年龄组患病率变化趋势相似,40～60岁组,60～80组 MS 患病率相似,且高于<40岁组及>80岁组,除>80岁组外,IDF 标准诊断率高(P<0.05);3)依据 CDS 标准,男女患病率相似;依据 IDF 标准,女性患病率增高,男性患病率降低,且女性高于男性;4)根据不同标准诊断的不同血压水平组患病率变化趋势相同,随血压水平升高,MS 患病率增高,各级高血压组 IDF 标准诊断率高(P<0.05)。结论与 CDS 标准相比,IDF 标准在高血压患者中诊断率更高,有利于早期更积极的控制高血压人群的多种危险因素。     

2种代谢综合征诊断标准在中国高血压人群中的比较

目的 比较中国糖尿病学会(CDS)及国际糖尿病联盟(IDF)的代谢综合征(MS)标准在中国高血压人群的应用. 方法 分别依据CDS和IDF标准对HOT-CHINA临床研究入选患者(n=58 289)的基础资料进行再次分析(n=17 861),研究不同标准下MS患病率,及其与年龄、性别、血压水平的关系.结果 提示1)依据CDS和IDF标准我国高血压人群MS患病率分别为42.2%,46.3%.IDF标准诊断率高(P<0.01);2)根据两种标准诊断的各年龄组患病率变化趋势相似,40～60岁组,60～80组MS患病率相似,且高于<40岁组及>80岁组,除>80岁组外,IDF标准诊断率高(P<0.05);3)依据CDS标准,男女患病率相似;依据IDF标准,女性患病率增高,男性患病率降低,且女性高于男性;4)根据不同标准诊断的不同血压水平组患病率变化趋势相同,随血压水平升高,MS患病率增高,各级高血压组IDF标准诊断率高(P<0.05).结论 与CDS标准相比,IDF标准在高血压患者中诊断率更高,有利于早期更积极的控制高血压人群的多种危险因素.     

2型糖尿病患者下肢动脉病变的相关因素分析

目的探讨影响T2DM患者下肢动脉病变(PAD)的相关因素。方法采用多普勒超声测定520例T2DM患者上臂和踝部的SBP,计算踝肱指数(ABI),根据ABI,将研究对象分为PAD组(ABI≤0.9)和非PAD组(ABI0.9),比较两组年龄、性别、吸烟指数、血脂、HbA_1c和病程等指标,并分析T2DM患者PAD的危险因素。结果 520例T2DM患者中,合并PAD者105例,发生率为20.2%。与非PAD组比较,PAD组年龄、吸烟指数、病程、高血压患病率、SBP、DBP、血清LDL-C、LDL-C/HDL-C、TC/HDL-C均升高(P0.01)。Logistic回归分析显示,T2DM患者PAD的独立危险因素为年龄和吸烟指数(OR=1.077、1.021)。结论增龄和吸烟指数是T2DM患者发生PAD的独立危险因素。病程长、高血压和脂代谢异常与PAD发生有关。     

男性代谢综合征患者踝臂指数的群组研究

目的研究男性代谢综合征患者踝臂指数（ABI）与全因及心血管疾病病死率的关系。方法收集上海、北京地区男性代谢综合征患者1224例,分为低ABI组（ABI≤0．9）与正常ABI组（ABI0．9—1．4）,测量其完整的基线资料,并进行随访调查。结果经过（13．2±2．7）个月,共死亡89例,其中40例为心血管疾病死亡。随着ABI值的降低,人群全因及心血管疾病病死率有显著升高趋势,Cox回归分析显示ABI≤0．9与两者显著相关。低ABI组的生存率显著低于正常ABI组。结论低ABI是男性代谢综合征患者发生全因及心血管疾病死亡的独立性危险因素,在该人群中早期运用ABI测定对心血管疾病死亡具有预测价值。     

The association between ankle-brachial index and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality in metabolic syndrome of elderly Chinese.

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a non-invasive, reliable measurement of lower-extremity ischemia. A low ABI is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and death. However, the relationship between ABI and all-cause mortality or cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been well studied. Accordingly, we here investigated the association between ABI and all-cause and CVD mortality in an elderly Chinese population with MetS. A total of 2,274 MetS patients diagnosed under the criteria proposed by the International Diabetes Federation were divided into two groups based on repeated ABI measurement over a period of 13.6 months: ABI相似文献   

Ankle-brachial index as a predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in 3733 Chinese patients with high cardiovascular risk

Objective To assess the association between 1-year risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease （CVD） mortality and ankle-brachial index （ABI） in Chinese patients who were at high CVD risk. Methods Totally 3733 patients with high CV risk had bilateral ABI measurements at baseline and were followed up for 1-1.5 years. Patients were divided to four groups： 1） coronary heart disease （CHD）; 2） ischemic stroke （IS）; 3） diabetes mellitus （DM）; 4） very high risk group（VHR）, low ABI was defined as 〈0.9. Results A total of 3179 patients were analyzed. The prevalence of low ABI was 28.1%. At 1 year, all-cause mortality was 8.7%, and 27.6% was attributable to CVD; mortality due to CV events was 4.8% and 1.5%. After adjusting other risk factors the hazard ratio of low ABI was 1.623 for all-cause mortality and 2.304 for CVD mortality. Similar in patient with and without low ABI, respectively were found in four groups.Conclusion ABI is a strong and independent predictor ofrnortality. Patients with a low ABI have a substantially increased risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality （J Geriatr Cardio12010; 7：17-20）.     

Risk factors of peripheral arterial disease and relationship between low ankle brachial index and mortality from all-cause and cardiovascular disease in Chinese patients with hypertension

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and the relationship between ankle brachial index (ABI) and mortality from all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Chinese patients with hypertension. The ABI cohort Study was designed to investigate risk factors of PAD and the relationship between ABI and mortality from all-cause and CVD in Chinese patients. ABI was identified at baseline by measuring systolic pressure at bilateral brachial and tibial arteries. Mortality surveillance was completed from November 2005 to January 2006. Among 3047 participants with hypertension at baseline, 839 (27.5%) were in the low-ABI group. Older age, female gender, higher serum level of triglycerides, lower serum level of high-density lipoprotein, a history of diabetes and a history of smoking were associated with low ABI. During the 13-month follow-up, there were 252 deaths, of which 100 died of CVD. Low ABI was associated with mortality from all-cause and CVD, whose adjusted relative risk was 1.619 (95% confidence interval 1.190-2.203) and 2.454 (1.531-3.933), respectively, in Cox regression models. The survival rate was significantly lower in the low-ABI group than in the normal-ABI group. This study demonstrated that low ABI was independently associated with a high risk of all-cause and CVD mortality in Chinese patients with hypertension. ABI should be promoted as an ideal tool to predict mortality in diabetic patients.     

High prevalence of peripheral arterial disease and low treatment rates in elderly primary care patients with diabetes.

Representative data on peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in community-based office practice are scarce while at the same time of high interest. Thus, we aimed to determine the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), comorbidity of atherothrombotic manifestations, and treatment intensity among elderly diabetic patients in primary care. In this monitored cross-sectional study, 344 general practitioners throughout Germany determined the ankle-brachial index (ABI) of 6880 consecutive, unselected patients aged 65 years or older with bilateral Doppler ultrasound measurements. PAD was defined according to the recent American Heart Association guidelines (using the higher of the 2 systolic ankle pressures: ABI < 0.9) or peripheral revascularisation, or amputation because of PAD. Coronary events (CAD) and cerebrovascular events (CVD) were taken from the patient's history without additional diagnostic measures. Diabetes was defined according to the clinical diagnosis of the physician and/or HbA1c > or = 6.5 % and/or intake of oral antidiabetic medication and/or application of insulin. 1.743 patients were classified as diabetics: the median disease duration was 6 years (1st; 3rd quartile: 2; 11), median HbA1c 6.6 % (5.9; 7.3), mean age 72.5 +/- 5.4 years, and 51.4 % were females. Diabetics had in comparison with non-diabetics a higher prevalence of PAD defined as ABI < 0.9 (26.3 % vs. 15.3 %, univariate odds ratio 2.0 [95 % confidence interval: 1.7; 2.3]), intermittent claudication (5.1 % vs. 2.1 %, OR: 2.5 [1.9; 3.4]), known CAD (16.1 % vs. 10.6 %, OR: 1.6 [1.4; 1.9]), and known CVD (6.8 % vs. 4.8 %; OR: 1.4 [1.2; 1.8]). 57.4 % of the diabetics with previously known PAD (as only atherothrombotic manifestation) received antiplatelet therapy (vs. 75.1 % with CAD and/or CVD only). The ABI was suitable as screening measure in the primary care setting. In elderly diabetics in comparison to non-diabetics, the prevalence of PAD was very high. Despite the known benefits of antiplatelet therapy, PAD patients were less intensively treated than patients with CAD or CVD.     

Prognostic usefulness of clinical and subclinical peripheral arterial disease in men with stable coronary heart disease

The prognostic value of symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) is well documented, but few reports differentiating between symptomatic and asymptomatic forms of PAD are available. We investigated the respective prognostic effect of clinical and subclinical PAD on long-term all-cause mortality in patients with stable CHD. We analyzed 710 patients with stable CHD referred for hospitalization for CHD evaluation and management. As a part of the study, they completed questionnaires on medical history, underwent a standardized clinical examination, including ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, and provided a fasting blood sample. Three groups of patients were individualized: no PAD (no history of PAD and ABI >0.9 but ≤1.4); subclinical PAD (no history of PAD but abnormal ABI [i.e., ≤0.9 or >1.4); and clinical PAD (history of claudication, peripheral arterial surgery, or amputation due to PAD). Clinical and subclinical PAD was present in 83 (11.7%) and 181 (25.5%) patients, respectively. After a median follow-up of 7.2 years, 130 patients died. On multivariate analysis adjusted for age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, left ventricular ejection fraction, CHD duration, heart rate, history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, and coronary revascularization, previous clinical PAD (hazard ratio 2.11, 95% confidence interval 1.28 to 3.47) and subclinical PAD (hazard ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 1.11 to 2.44) were significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality. In conclusion, our study has demonstrated that the detection of subclinical PAD by ABI in patients with stable CHD provides additional information for long-term mortality risk evaluation.     

Usefulness of red cell distribution width to predict mortality in patients with peripheral artery disease

Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a marker of anisocytosis, has been associated with adverse outcomes in multiple settings. Whether RDW is predictive of mortality in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) is unknown. We studied 13,039 consecutive outpatients (69.5 ± 12.0 years of age, 60.9% men, 97.6% white) with PAD identified by noninvasive lower-extremity arterial testing at the Mayo Clinic from January 1997 through December 2007, with follow-up through September 2009. We defined PAD as a low (≤ 0.9) or high (≥ 1.4) ankle-brachial index (ABI). Cardiovascular risk factors and co-morbidities were ascertained using electronic medical record-based algorithms. RDW was obtained from the complete blood cell count drawn around the time of arterial evaluation. Mortality was ascertained using the Mayo electronic medical record and Accurint databases. Association of RDW with all-cause mortality was analyzed by multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. During a median follow-up of 5.5 years, 4,039 (31.0%) deaths occurred (28.7% in low and 38.9% in high ABI subsets). After adjustment for age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, and co-morbidities, patients in the highest quartile of RDW (> 14.5%) had a 66% greater risk of mortality compared to the lowest quartile (< 12.8%, p < 0.0001); a 1% increment in RDW was associated with a 10% greater risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.12, p < 0.0001). The adjusted hazard ratio was similar in the low (1.10, 1.08 to 1.12) and high (1.09, 1.06 to 1.12) ABI subsets. In conclusion, RDW, a routinely available measurement, is an independent prognostic marker in patients with PAD.     

Impact of ramipril in patients with evidence of clinical or subclinical peripheral arterial disease.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic importance of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) as evaluated by ankle blood pressure index (ABI), and the impact of ramipril on the prevention of major cardiovascular events in PAD patients included in the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were randomized to treatment with ramipril or placebo and followed for 4.5 years. Ankle brachial blood pressure index was measured, mainly by digital palpation of the foot pulse, at baseline in 8986 patients. The ABI was subnormal (< or =0.9) in 3099 patients and normal in 5887 patients. A low ABI was a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality during the follow-up even in patients with no clinical symptoms of PAD (n=6769). This was so for the primary outcome of the study; ABI>0.9:13.1%, 0.6-0.9: 18.2% and <0.6: 18.0% (P<0.0001) and for mortality from all causes: in those with a normal ABI it was 8.5%, in those with ABI >0.6-0.9, 12.4% and 14.2% in those with an ABI lower than 0.6 (P<0.0001). Ramipril reduced the risk of clinical outcomes in those with a clinical history of PAD as well as in the patients with subclinical PAD. CONCLUSIONS: The ABI even if measured simply by palpation of the foot arteries is a strong predictor for future cardiovascular events and for all-cause mortality. Ramipril prevented major cardiovascular events in patients with clinical as well as subclinical PAD.     

Cardiovascular risk factor management is poorer in diabetic patients with undiagnosed peripheral arterial disease than in those with known coronary heart disease or cerebrovascular disease. Results of a nationwide study in tertiary diabetes centres

Aims To assess whether patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and unrecognized peripheral arterial disease (PAD), detected by the ankle–brachial index (ABI), have poorer cardiovascular risk factor management (CVRFs) and receive fewer medications than patients previously diagnosed with coronary heart disease (CHD) or cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Methods In 31 diabetes centres throughout Spain, 1303 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus were screened for PAD using the ABI. Patient history of CHD and CVD and treatment and control of CVRFs were recorded. Results Forty-one patients had an ABI > 1.30 and were excluded, leaving 1262 patients (age 65.3 ± 7.7 years) for the study. Of those screened, 790 patients had a normal ABI (ABI > 0.9) and no known history of CHD or CVD (no CHD/CVD/PAD group), 194 had unrecognized PAD (ABI ≤ 0.9) with no known history of CHD or CVD (undiagnosed PAD group) and 278 had a known history of CHD and/or CVD (CHD/CVD group). The undiagnosed PAD group had higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (2.9 ± 0.83 vs. 2.4 ± 0.84 mmol/l; P < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (150 ± 20 vs. 145 ± 21 mmHg; P < 0.001) compared with the CHD/CVD group. They were less likely to take statins (56.9 vs. 71.6%; P < 0.001), anti-hypertensive agents (75.9 vs. 90.1%, P = 0.001), and anti-platelet agents (aspirin, 28.7 vs. 57.2%; P < 0.001; clopidogrel, 5.6 vs. 20.9%; P < 0.001) and more likely to smoke (21.0 vs. 9.2%; P < 0.001). Higher LDL in the undiagnosed PAD group was associated with the underutilization of statins. Conclusions Measurement of ABI detected a significant number of patients with PAD, who did not have CHD or CVD, but whose CVRFs were under treated and poorly controlled compared with subjects with CHD and/or CVD.     

Ankle brachial index as a marker of atherosclerosis in Chinese patients with high cardiovascular risk.

To obtain reliable data on the epidemiology, co-morbidities and risk factor profile of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), we evaluated the clinical significance of the ankle brachial index (ABI) as an indicator of PAD in Chinese patients at high cardiovascular (CV) risk. ABI was measured in 5,646 Chinese patients at high CV risk, and PAD was defined as an ABI<0.9 in either leg. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with PAD. A total of 5,263 patients were analyzed, 52.9% male, mean age 67.3 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 24.2 kg/m2, mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) 139/80.7 mmHg. The prevalence of PAD in the total group of patients was 25.4%, and the prevalence was higher in females than in males (27.1% vs. 23.9%; odds ratio [OR]: 1.64). Patients with PAD were older than those without PAD (72.3+/-9.9 years vs. 65.6+/-11.7 years; OR: 1.06), and more frequently had diabetes (43.3% vs. 31.3%; OR: 2.02), coronary heart disease (CHD) (27.0% vs. 18.8%; OR: 1.67), stroke (44.4% vs. 28.3%; OR: 1.78), lipid disorders (57.2% vs. 50.7%; OR: 1.3) and a smoking habit (42.7% vs. 38.6%; OR: 1.52). The ORs for the PAD group compared with the non-PAD group demonstrated that these conditions were inversely related to ABI. Statin, angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors and antiplatelet agents were only used in 40.5%, 53.6% and 69.1% of PAD patients, respectively. The data demonstrated the high prevalence and low treatment of PAD in Chinese patients at high CV risk. A lower ABI was associated with generalized atherosclerosis. Based on these findings, ABI should be a routine measurement in high risk patients. Aggressive medication was required in these patients.