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Risk factors for carotid artery stenosis: an epidemiological study of men aged 69 years
G Jungquist1, B S Hanson, S O Isacsson
1Department of Clinical Physiology, Lund University, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Smoking significantly increases the risk of severe carotid artery disease. Quitting smoking before age 50 reduces this risk to levels comparable to non-smokers.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
- Carotid artery stenosis is a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke.
- Identifying modifiable risk factors is crucial for stroke prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of carotid artery disease in a male population.
- To examine the association between known vascular risk factors and carotid artery disease.
- To assess the impact of smoking cessation on carotid artery disease incidence.
Main Methods:
- Ultrasonic Doppler examination of carotid arteries in 478 men born in 1914.
- Measurement of vascular risk factors: blood pressure, lipids, glucose, hematocrit, alcohol consumption, and Body Mass Index.
- Categorization of internal carotid artery stenosis severity and occlusion.
Main Results:
- Moderate (30-59%) stenosis found in 20% of men; severe (>=60%) stenosis in 3%; occlusion in 1.5%.
- Smoking was significantly associated with severe carotid artery disease.
- Quitting smoking before age 50 resulted in similar carotid artery disease incidence as non-smokers.
Conclusions:
- Smoking is a significant risk factor for severe carotid artery disease.
- Early smoking cessation (before age 50) mitigates the increased risk.
- Regular screening and risk factor modification are essential for vascular health.
Abstract:
Four hundred and seventy-eight men born in 1914 and residing in the city of Malmö, Sweden, underwent ultrasonic Doppler examination of the carotid arteries in 1982/83. The known risk factors for vascular disease--blood pressure, lipids, glucose, hematocrit, alcohol consumption and Body Mass Index were also measured. A moderate stenosis (diameter reduction 30-59%) of the internal carotid artery was found in 95 men (20%); 15 men (3%) had a greater than or equal to 60% stenosis of the internal carotid artery, while 7 (1.5%) had complete unilateral occlusion. Smoking was found to be significantly related to severe carotid artery disease. There was also a significant correlation between maximum flow velocity in the internal carotid artery and triglycerides. Those quitting smoking before the age of 50 had the same incidence of internal carotid artery disease as non-smokers, while those quitting later in life had a slightly higher incidence than life-long smokers.