Intima-Media Thickness of the Common Carotid Arteries Is Related to Coronary Atherosclerosis and left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Older Adults

• Published in: Angiology Vol. 53; no. 5; pp. 569 - 574
• Main Authors: Raso, Francesco Mattace, van Popele, Nicole M., Schalekamp, Maarten A. D. H., van der Cammen, Tischa J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01-09-2002; Westminster; Sage Publications, Inc; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Atherosclerosis; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Carotid artery diseases; Carotid Artery, Common - diagnostic imaging; Cohort Studies; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease - complications; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary heart disease; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Diabetes Complications; Diagnosis; Echocardiography; Female; Heart; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - complications; Hypertension - complications; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular - complications; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular - diagnostic imaging; Linear Models; Male; Medical sciences; Risk Factors; Smoking - adverse effects; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tunica Intima - diagnostic imaging; Tunica Media - diagnostic imaging; Human; Media; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary heart disease; Left ventricle; Vascular disease; Thickness; Heart disease; Carotid; Atherosclerosis; Risk factor; Intima; Hypertrophy
• ISSN: 0003-3197; 1940-1574
• DOI: 10.1177/000331970205300511

Increased intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries is related to generalized atherosclerosis and increased risk of future myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease. An association between IMT and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been documented, but controversial data have been found about the relation between increased IMT and the extent of CAD. An association between carotid atherosclerosis and cardiac remodeling has also been reported. It is still unclear whether increased IMT of the common carotid arteries might be associated with prevalent cardiovascular disease in older adults. This study included 70 patients, 37 with CAD and 33 matched for age and gender without CAD. All patients underwent a baseline clinical examination, B-mode ultrasound of the carotid arteries, and echocardiography. The authors evaluated the possible association between increased IMT with the presence and extent of CAD and the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The patients with CAD had significantly increased IMT compared to patients without CAD. IMT was found to increase with the number of coronary vessels affected, after adjustment for age, gender, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and smoking habits. The test for trend was highly significant (p<0.001). Patients with LVH had significantly increased IMT as compared with patients without LVH. IMT of the common carotid arteries was increased in the presence of CAD and increased with the number of coronary vessels diseased. Second, the authors found that IMT of the common carotid arteries was significantly increased in patients with LVH. Increased IMT, as an indicator of subclinical cardiovascular disease, may help to identify patients who would benefit from aggressive therapeutic measures.