Ankle Blood Pressure and Mortality Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Heikki Hietanen, Rauni Pääkkönen, Veikko Salomaa
Primary Institution: Helsinki Deaconess Institute
Hypothesis
The ankle blood pressure may be an early indicator of adverse cardiovascular changes and mortality risk.
Conclusion
Ankle blood pressure is an independent marker of arterial stiffness and future mortality risk in middle-aged individuals.
Supporting Evidence
- Elevated ankle blood pressure is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular and total mortality.
- The study followed 3,858 patients for an average of 14 years.
- Normal ankle blood pressure indicates a better prognosis.
Takeaway
Measuring ankle blood pressure can help doctors find out if someone is at risk for heart problems, even if they feel fine.
Methodology
A prospective follow-up study of patients undergoing exercise tests, with mortality tracked over 14 years.
Potential Biases
Patients referred by occupational health physicians may have different health profiles than the general population.
Limitations
The study population was not randomly selected and may not represent the general population.
Participant Demographics
Mean age 51 years, 65.9% male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Confidence Interval
1.52 – 4.80 for CVD mortality; 1.58 – 2.85 for total mortality.
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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