ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Peripheral arterial disease of the lower extremities (PAD) is a serious condition, frequently under-evaluated. Long asymptomatic, it is easily detected by measuring the ankle-brachial index (ABI), a reference tool that is reliable, reproducible, simple and inexpensive. The objective of this thesis was to determine the rate of achievement of ABI in French Haute Autorité de santé indications, identify the associated factors and prioritize the obstacles to achieving ABI. METHODS: Descriptive and analytical epidemiological study, with analysis of practices, prospectively addressed by postal questionnaire to a randomized sample of 220 general practitioners practicing in the European Metropolis of Lille between December 15, 2016 and February 15, 2017. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 92 GPs (42% participation). Among them, only 6 practiced ABI, notably for: intermittent claudication (n=5: 5%, IC95% [1; 10]), the existence of at least 2 cardiovascular risk factors (n=2: 2%, IC95% [0; 5]), diabetic patients over 40 years of age (n=2: 2%, IC95% [0; 5]), patients with diabetes (n=2: 2%, IC95% [0; 5]), patients with diabetes (n=2: 1%, IC95% [0; 5]), patients with diabetes (n=2: 1%, IC95% [0; 5]), and patients with diabetes (n=2: 1%, IC95% [0; 5]): 2%, CI95% [0; 5]), patients over 50 years of age with a history of diabetes or smoking (n=2: 2%, CI95% [0; 5]), or those with an unhealed lower extremity skin lesion (n=5: 5%, CI95% [1; 10]). The most frequently cited barriers were: the prescription of a routine echo-doppler (61%, 95% CI [51; 71]), lack of control (46%, 95% CI [36; 56]), time considered too long (17%, 95% CI [10; 25]), and equipment purchase or maintenance (19%, 95% CI [10.5; 26.4]). CONCLUSION: ABI is few used in our sample, mainly due to delegation to angiologists.
