Ankle-Brachial Index

in Vascular Diagnostics and Imaging

Applied

Type

Modification

Confidence

95%

Created

Mar 19, 2026

Evidence

2 sources

Rationale

The integration focuses on updating the guideline section with the 2024 ACC/AHA/SVS multi-society document, which is the current gold standard for PAD management. The systematic review by Uyagu et al. (2022) was added to support the consistency of these recommendations across various international guidelines. Abbreviations were expanded on first use as per instructions.

Content Changes

* **Definition:** ratio of ankle systolic pressure to brachial systolic pressure.
* **Normal values:** 1.00–1.40.
* **peripheral**Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) diagnosis:** <0.90 indicates peripheral arterial disease;PAD; <0.50 indicates severe ischemia.
* **Noncompressible arteries:** Values >1.40 suggest medial arterial calcification (common in diabetes and chronic kidney disease).disease (CKD)). In such cases, measure toe pressures and toe-brachial index (TBI) instead.
* **Exercise testing:** If symptoms suggest PAD but resting ankle-brachial index (ABI) is normal,normal or borderline (0.91–0.99), perform post-exercise ABI. A decrease ≥20% in ABI or ≥30 mmHg drop in ankle pressure supports the diagnosis.
* **Guidelines:** The 2024 ACC/AHA/SVS guideline reaffirms ABI as the primary diagnostic test for PAD [@svs2024]. Previous recommendations from AHA/ACC (2016) and ESC (2017) also recommend ABI as first-line screening, with exercise ABI and toe-brachial index (TBI)TBI when indicated. [@aboyans2012]indicated [@aha2016] [@esc2017] [@potier2011][@uyagu2022].