Accuracy and repeatability of the Dopplex Ability

Abstract

We found the Dopplex device to demonstrate suboptimal accuracy and repeatability in assessing ABI/PVR, and it was deemed unsuitable for use in our community.

Automated Measurements of Ankle-Brachial Index: A Narrative Review

“…For air plethysmography, all of the identified studies analyzed the same model of the device ( Table 3 ). Millen et al found that the device showed accuracy and repeatability at suboptimal levels [ 45 ], while van der Slegt et al pointed to higher ABI values obtained with plethysmography and described the device as not applicable clinically [ 46 ]. Babaei et al described air plethysmography specificity as excellent, along with the specificity of Doppler ABI and pulse volume waveform assessment; however, the sensitivity of plethysmography was the lowest of the three methods analyzed [ 36 ].…”

“…The studies that included PVR assessment apart from ABI measurement, found that component to be more diagnostically accurate than ABI measurement alone [ 36 , 38 , 45 ]. Lewis et al concluded that combining both methods is a highly accurate PAD exclusion modality [ 38 ].…”

The reliability of the ankle brachial index: a systematic review

“…The majority of studies [12, 47–51, 55, 57] included only participants with suspected PAD, or risk factors for atherosclerosis; three studied a mixed population including those without risk factors or clinical indicators of PAD [13, 16, 52]; two studies included only participants with diabetes [53, 54], and two studies included only healthy individuals [46, 56].…”

“…Two studies did not state the number of limbs included [52, 53]. Eleven studies assessed inter‐rater reliability [12, 13, 16, 46–50, 56, 57], and eight studies reported intra‐rater reliability [13, 16, 52–57]. The characteristics of included studies are described in Table 2.…”

“…Eleven studies reported participants' gender, with more men ( n = 416, 56.4%) overall than women, whilst gender was unreported in four studies [12, 46, 49, 50]. Most of the studies included predominantly older participants (age range (41–92 years) [12, 13, 16, 47–49, 51, 53–55, 57], however two studies recruited only younger adults (age range 22–30 years) [46, 56], one study included 18–80 year olds [52] and one study did not report participants' ages [50]. The majority of studies [12, 47–51, 55, 57] included only participants with suspected PAD, or risk factors for atherosclerosis; three studied a mixed population including those without risk factors or clinical indicators of PAD [13, 16, 52]; two studies included only participants with diabetes [53, 54], and two studies included only healthy individuals [46, 56].…”