Assessment of intermittent claudication: a comparison of questionnaire, visual analogue scale and subjective estimate information with post-exercise ankle-brachial pressure index

In order to assess two simple methods of evaluation of claudication, a stan dard questionnaire and visual analogue scale, a comparison was made between them and the post-exercise pressure index used as a gold standard. Fifty-e ight consecutive stable claudicants were recruited to the study, 51/58 havi ng arterial insufficiency according to post-exercise pressure measurements. Both methods appeared to correlate rather poorly with post-exercise pressu res. Thus visual analogue scale cannot be used alone to assess walking tole rance but as it offers qualitative information it may be used to supplement pressure measurements in the assessment of incapacity caused by intermitte nt claudication.