Normative data for pulse palpation, the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire and the ankle-brachial-pressure index in a younger age group

Background: Diabetic foot complications are becoming more prominent in the below 60 year age group. Several clinical assessment methods exist with angiography being the tool of choice. The ankle-brachial-pressure index (ABPI) is most often used in primary health care with pulse palpitation (PP) preferred by physicians. In some instances the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire (ECQ) is also used. The occurrence of asymptomatic or symptomatic disease in the younger age group and the effect of gender have not been investigated and in the first instance require normative data.Methods: Using convenience sampling 59participants were recruited at Charles Sturt University and divided into two age groups of less than 30 and between 30 and 60 years. The ABPI was compared PP and ECQ results. Results: Twenty-nine participants were under 30 years of age (22.2±2) and the remainder between 30 and 60 years of age (48±9) with no known pathology. The overall mean age group and standard deviation were (35±15). ABPI results ranged between 0.91 to 1.17 with a significant difference between ABPI and PP. PP testing found 4.2% being abnormal (p=0.03). Discussion: Normative data in a healthy younger population is an important adjunct to clinical reviews and the method used to determine abnormal blood flow. Of interest is that the ABPI results fall between 0.91 and 1.17 suggesting that the currently used lower cut-off of 0.9 is appropriate but that that the higher cut-off could be moved down from 1.3 for clinical decision making in this age group.