Carotid artery measures are strongly associated with left ventricular mass in older adults (A report from the cardiovascular health study)

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 77; no. 8; pp. 628 - 633
• Main Authors: Kronmal, Richard A., Smith, Vivienne-Elizabeth, O'Leary, Daniel H., Polak, Joseph F., Gardin, Julius M., Manolio, Teri A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 15-03-1996; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular system; Carotid Arteries - anatomy & histology; Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Arteries - pathology; Cohort Studies; Coronary vessels; Female; Heart; Heart Ventricles - anatomy & histology; Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular - diagnostic imaging; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular - pathology; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography; Sonography; Human; Mass; Correlation; Echocardiography; Carotid; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Diameter; Left ventricle
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9149(97)89319-8

Associations of carotid artery diameter and intimal-medial thickness by ultrasound with echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) structure were examined in 3/409 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based study of risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke in men and women aged ≥65 years. At baseline, sector-guided M-mode echocardiography and B-mode ultrasound were used to evaluate the left ventricle and carotid arteries, respectively. Common carotid artery diameter and intimal-medial thickness were significantly related to LV mass in correlational analysis (r = 0.40 and 0.20, respectively, p < 0.01), and each was independently associated with LV mass after adjustment for age, gender, weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, antihypertensive medication use, prior coronary heart disease, electrocardiographic abnormalities, high-density lipoprotein, and factor VII. We speculate that changes in the arterial wall affect impedance to LV ejection leading to increases in LV mass. Further follow-up of this cohort is in progress and will help to determine whether such carotid artery measures could, by exacerbating LV hypertrophy, constitute another important risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes.