New device for assessing the toe-brachial index and a pilot cross-sectional study in diabetic patients
Abstract
Abstract Background Blood pressure measurements in the hallux and fingers are important in evaluation of patients with diabetes, obese patients, dialysis patients, and those with peripheral artery disease. Objectives In this article, we tested a prototype of an automatic device for measuring systolic pressure in fingers and toes, combining optical plethysmography and a pressure sensor, with a cuff encircling the finger or toe, and controlled by a microcontroller. Methods The prototypes (a total of 3 identical devices) were tested for initial validation (with a group of participants who already had symptoms of peripheral arterial disease [PAD], n=30) and also in clinical comparisons between controls (n=15) and participants with diabetes (n=15). The following variables were tested: Ankle-brachial index; Toe-finger index; Toe-brachial index, and toe pressure in isolation. For validation, the toe pressure in isolation was measured with two devices (the prototype under test and the SysToe® device), to analyze the correlation between the two measurements. Results The correlation between the two devices was strong (R=0.88) in the group with symptoms of PAD. Toe-brachial index was lower in patients with diabetes than in control participants (p=0.005) as was the Toe-finger index (p=0.03), however, the Ankle-brachial index was similar in these two groups (p=0.92). Conclusions The findings show the feasibility of the device for measuring finger and toe pressures, and possibly indicate…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 30 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Nano Biosensors: Properties, applications and electrochemical techniques
- Electrochemically Synthesized MIP Sensors: Applications in Healthcare Diagnostics
- Toward a Harmonization for Using in situ Nutrient Sensors in the Marine Environment
- Electrochemical determination of rutin by using NiFe2O4 nanoparticles-loaded reduced graphene oxide
- Application of Polyoxometalate-based composites for sensor systems: A review
- Sensitive Electrochemical and Thermal Detection of Human Noroviruses Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanoparticles Generated against a Viral Target
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.