TY - JOUR
T1 - Association between calf circumference and cardiovascular health indicators in patients with peripheral artery disease
AU - Ferreira, Fabiana Gonçalves
AU - Kanegusuku, Hélcio
AU - Segheto, Wellington
AU - Cucato, Gabriel Grizzo
AU - Wolosker, Nelson
AU - Ritti-Dias, Raphael Mendes
AU - Elias, Rosilene Motta
AU - Farah, Breno Quintella
AU - Correia, Marilia de Almeida
PY - 2025/9/15
Y1 - 2025/9/15
N2 - To analyze the association between calf circumference and cardiovascular indicators in men and women with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. This cross-sectional study included 259 patients with peripheral artery disease (65% men; mean age, 67 [±12] years; ankle brachial index, 0.58 [0.26]). We measured calf circumference, brachial and central blood pressure, arterial stiffness indicators (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and augmentation index), and heart rate variability parameters. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the association between calf circumference and cardiovascular indicators after adjusting for age, ankle-brachial index, and walking capacity. In women, calf circumference was inversely associated with central blood pressure (systolic: β=-1.91 [0.70] mmHg, p=0.008; diastolic: β=-0.97 [0.29] mmHg, p=0.001), augmentation index (β=-1.06 [0.28]%, p0.05). In women with peripheral artery disease, calf circumference was inversely associated with arterial stiffness. This finding suggests that a lower calf circumference may serve as an indicator of increased arterial stiffness in women with peripheral artery disease.
AB - To analyze the association between calf circumference and cardiovascular indicators in men and women with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. This cross-sectional study included 259 patients with peripheral artery disease (65% men; mean age, 67 [±12] years; ankle brachial index, 0.58 [0.26]). We measured calf circumference, brachial and central blood pressure, arterial stiffness indicators (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and augmentation index), and heart rate variability parameters. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the association between calf circumference and cardiovascular indicators after adjusting for age, ankle-brachial index, and walking capacity. In women, calf circumference was inversely associated with central blood pressure (systolic: β=-1.91 [0.70] mmHg, p=0.008; diastolic: β=-0.97 [0.29] mmHg, p=0.001), augmentation index (β=-1.06 [0.28]%, p0.05). In women with peripheral artery disease, calf circumference was inversely associated with arterial stiffness. This finding suggests that a lower calf circumference may serve as an indicator of increased arterial stiffness in women with peripheral artery disease.
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Heart Rate - physiology
KW - Sex Factors
KW - Peripheral Arterial Disease - physiopathology - pathology
KW - Leg - anatomy & histology - pathology - blood supply
KW - Aged
KW - Ankle Brachial Index
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Body Mass Index
KW - Male
KW - Blood Pressure - physiology
KW - Pulse Wave Analysis
KW - Female
KW - Vascular Stiffness - physiology
KW - Humans
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105016422693
U2 - 10.31744/einstein_journal/2025AO1089
DO - 10.31744/einstein_journal/2025AO1089
M3 - Article
C2 - 40960777
SN - 1679-4508
VL - 23
JO - Einstein
JF - Einstein
M1 - eAO1089
ER -
