Frequência de índice tornozelo-braço alterado e fatores de risco para isquemia de membros inferiores em pacientes portadores de diabetes do Tipo 2

Abstract

Background: The peripheral artery disease has a high prevalence among diabetic patients, especially in type 2 diabetes. It is underdiagnosed and undertreated, presenting many risk factors and high morbidity and mortality rates, frequently leading to lower limb amputation. The diagnosis made by the ankle brachial index shows high sensitivity and specificity for the peripheral pathology, yet there is a lack of research about the prevalence of that disease and its risk factors, especially in Brazil. Objectives: This research has as its main objective the report of the frequency of the peripheral ischemia and its risk factors in a population with diabetes type 2, attended in a health center of medium complexity. Methods: 58 patients with type 2 diabetes were evaluated by using a questionnaire, patient’s records and by physical examination, including the ankle brachial index. Results: The use of the ankle brachial index showed a prevalence of 18,96% for ischemia. The mean of the ankle brachial index results was significantly lower in the subjects with higher age and in those with nephropathy. Furthermore, there have been no association between the frequency of complaints of claudication and the ankle brachial index values. Conclusions: The results were consistent with previous data, like the value of the frequency of the peripheral pathology and the relation between lower ankle brachial values with higher age and presence of nephropathy. As expected, the ankle-brachial index proved to be a more effective method than claudication for the detection of ischemia. However, in order to improve its diagnose and treatment, it is necessary to execute a larger quantity of research on peripheral pathology.