Which condition can lead to a falsely elevated ABI reading?

A falsely elevated Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) reading can occur in individuals with diabetes mellitus, particularly due to the effects of diabetic neuropathy and the presence of calcified and non-compressible arteries. In patients with diabetes, arterial stiffness can lead to incompressibility of the posterior tibial and/or dorsalis pedis arteries, resulting in elevated ankle pressures that do not accurately reflect the true perfusion status of the lower extremities. This can mislead healthcare professionals into believing that there is adequate blood flow when, in fact, there may still be significant vascular issues present.

In this context, while other options like hypertension, peripheral artery disease, and coronary artery disease are significant conditions that affect cardiovascular health, they do not typically result in the same type of abnormal ABI elevation due to arterial stiffness associated with diabetes. Therefore, diabetes mellitus is particularly noteworthy in the context of interpreting ABI readings correctly in geriatric patients.