Independent risk factors for morphological abnormalities of the internal carotid artery

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Cerebrovascular Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The origins of carotid abnormalities (CAs) remain debated, with uncertainty regarding whether they are congenital or acquired.
• The role of CAs as risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases versus incidental findings is also under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify independent risk factors associated with carotid abnormalities (CAs).
• To elucidate the contributing factors in the development of CAs across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• Prospective classification of observed carotid abnormalities (CAs) based on their nature.
• Analysis of factors associated with CAs using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.
• Inclusion of a wide age range of subjects, from 3 days to 102 years, divided into nine 10-year age groups.

Main Results:

• Carotid abnormalities (CAs) were present in 30% (552/1,838) of internal carotid arteries studied.
• Prevalence peaks for CAs were observed in the 0-9 and over 80 years age groups, with the lowest rates in the 20-39 years group.
• Significant predictors for CAs in adults (≥40 years) included advanced age, female gender, hypertension, and carotid artery atherosclerosis. In younger subjects (0-19 years), age was also a significant predictor.

Conclusions:

• Both congenital and acquired factors contribute to the development of carotid abnormalities (CAs).
• In individuals aged 40 and older, acquired factors such as aging, female gender, hypertension, and atherosclerosis are strongly associated with CAs.
• The study highlights the multifactorial nature of CAs and identifies key risk factors across the lifespan.