The ankle-brachial index (ABI) was introduced as a screening method for the diagnosis of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Later findings recognized ABI as a prognostic marker of adverse cardiovascular events due to its relation to atherosclerosis in other vascular territories. This narrative review aims to appraise the validity, reliability, and utility of ABI in the detection of PAD and the determination of global atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk. While the ABI value can be influenced by different physiological characteristics including age, sex, body position, and techniques used for ABI determination, it has high specificity and reproducibility in the assessment of vascular patients. In conclusion, when used correctly, the ABI remains a reliable and invaluable indicator of lower-limb perfusion and a useful tool for predicting the risk of future cardiovascular events. However, its underutilization in clinical settings is noteworthy.

中文翻译：

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踝臂指数：周围动脉疾病的诊断工具和心血管风险的预测因子——现有知识的更新

踝臂指数（ABI）被引入作为诊断下肢外周动脉疾病（PAD）的筛查方法。后来的研究结果认识到 ABI 是不良心血管事件的预后标志物，因为它与其他血管区域的动脉粥样硬化有关。本叙述性综述旨在评估 ABI 在检测 PAD 和确定总体动脉粥样硬化心血管风险方面的有效性、可靠性和实用性。虽然 ABI 值可能受到不同生理特征（包括年龄、性别、体位和 ABI 测定技术）的影响，但它在评估血管患者时具有较高的特异性和可重复性。总之，如果使用正确，ABI 仍然是下肢灌注的可靠且宝贵的指标，也是预测未来心血管事件风险的有用工具。然而，其在临床环境中的利用不足值得注意。