Aim: The aim of the study was to verify the importance of using the ankle-brachial index for the prediction of cardiovascular complications in a three year pilot study of middle-aged men. Materiál and methods: A cohort of 442 males, followed in the Consulting rooms of 14 generál practices, was enrolled. Ankle-brachial index assessed with hand held continuous Doppler ultrasound for the measurement of blood pressure was calculated from the left (ABS), right (ABD) and both legs (ABI) and related to the arm pressures. Cumulative incidence of all signs of disease progression (invasive intervention on the peripheral arteries, coronary arteries, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular events) occurring between years 2001-2004 was analyzed. Results: Mean ankle-brachial index ranged from 1.10 to 1.08 on either leg. Decreased values (<0.9) were found from 10.6 % males (ABI) to 12.4% (ABD). Cardiovascular complications were encountered in 32 men (7.3 %). Their ankle brachial indices were highly significantly decreased as compared with those of men wit-hout complications. Conclusions: Statistically significant relationship between cardiovascular complications and ankle-brachi¬al indices were found even taking into account the age, blood pressure and symptoms of the metabolic syn¬drome. Decreased ankle-brachial index may contribute to the prediction of cardiovascular risk of middle aged men with a low to moderate risk, which might improve prevention in generál practice.

        Key words: Ankle-brachial index, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular complications, prevention, primary care