EN
Views concerning the dependency between the claudication distance and ankle-brachial index values are ambiguous.The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between the distance covered during the treadmill test and ankle-brachial index, and the distance covered during the treadmill test and claudication distance reported by the patient.Material and method. The study group contained 75 patients of both genders, above the age of 40 years, treated at the Vascular Disease Outpatient Clinic, diagnosed with one or both-sided intermittent claudication, and with an ankle-brachial index below 0.9. In all patients we evaluated the ankle-brachial index at rest, considering both lower limbs, as well as the claudication distance on the treadmill test (3.2 km/h, 12° gradient). We determined the distance traveled until the manifestation of pain (distance free of pain), and the distance until complete stop (total walking distance). Analysis always considered one (the worse) lower limb of the patient.Results. There was no correlation between the ankle-brachial index and distance covered during the treadmill test. However, there was a statistically significant dependency between the claudication distance reported by the patient, and that observed during the treadmill test. A moderate correlation was observed between the total walking distance and the claudication distance reported by the patient (r= 0.441, p=0.001).Conclusions. 1. The ankle-brachial index at rest should not be used as a measure of the intensification of lower limb ischemia symptoms in patients with intermittent claudication. 2. The claudication distance reported by the patient only moderately correlates with the total observed walking distance.