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Abstract Introduction Functional changes in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) could play a role in higher cardiovascular risk in these patients. Methods 123 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography were included. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was measured and arterial stiffness parameters were derived with applanation tonometry. Results 6 patients (4.9%) had a previously known PAD (Rutherford grade I). Mean ABI was 1.04 ± 0.12, mean subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) 166.6 ± 32.7% and mean carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) 10.3 ± 2.4 m/s. Most of the patients (n = 81, 65.9%) had coronary artery disease (CAD). There was no difference in ABI among different degrees of CAD. Patients with zero- and three-vessel CAD had significantly lower values of SEVR, compared to patients with one- and two-vessel CAD (159.5 ± 32.9%/158.1 ± 31.5% vs 181.0 ± 35.2%/166.8 ± 27.8%; p = 0.048). No significant difference was observed in cfPWV values. Spearman's correlation test showed an important correlation between ABI and SEVR (r = 0.196; p = 0.037) and between ABI and cfPWV (r = − 0.320; p ≤ 0.001). Multiple regression analysis confirmed an association between cfPWV and ABI (β = − 0.210; p = 0.003), cfPWV and mean arterial pressure (β = 0.064; p < 0.001), cfPWV and age (β = 0.113; p < 0.001) and between cfPWV and body mass index (BMI (β = − 0.195; p = 0.028), but not with arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus or smoking status. SEVR was not statistically significantly associated with ABI using the same multiple regression model. Conclusion Reduced ABI was associated with increased cfPWV, but not with advanced CAD or decreased SEVR.