Which of the following conditions can cause inaccurately elevated ABI readings?

In the context of measuring the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), the condition that can cause inaccurately elevated readings is the presence of incompressible arteries. When arteries are incompressible, typically due to calcification or severe vascular disease, the blood flow cannot be reduced adequately during the measurement. This leads to artificially high systolic pressures at the ankle, which in turn results in an elevated ABI value.

Incompressibility affects the accuracy of the ABI because the true hemodynamic status of the lower extremity arteries is not being represented. An ABI reading above 1.4 is considered abnormal and indicative of potential issues, as it suggests that the pressures are disproportionately high compared to the arm, which should not be the case in normal functioning arteries.

While other conditions like high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure can contribute to vascular health issues, they do not directly cause an elevation in ABI readings as incompressible arteries do. Instead, they may influence the overall risk of developing peripheral arterial disease but do not interfere with the compressibility needed for accurate ABI assessment.