[Conventional and novel cardiovascular risk factors and predisposition to the development of atherosclerosis]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular epidemiology
• Atherosclerosis research
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality globally.
• Atherosclerosis, a primary driver of CVD, is characterized by arterial wall thickening.
• Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a validated marker for generalized atherosclerosis and CVD risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the geographical variations in cIMT among individuals at increased risk for CVD.
• To determine the extent to which conventional cardiovascular risk factors explain cIMT variability.
• To explore the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to atherosclerosis susceptibility.

Main Methods:

• Population-based cross-sectional study design.
• Inclusion of 472 participants with increased CVD risk, including 300 with hypercholesterolemia.
• Ultrasonic evaluation of common carotid arteries to measure cIMT.

Main Results:

• A significant geographical gradient in cIMT was observed.
• This cIMT gradient strongly correlated with known geographical gradients in cardiovascular mortality.
• Conventional cardiovascular risk factors accounted for only 21% of the variability in cIMT.

Conclusions:

• Geographical disparities in atherosclerosis exist and are linked to cardiovascular mortality patterns.
• Conventional risk factors are insufficient to explain the full spectrum of atherosclerosis development.
• A predisposition to atherosclerosis likely results from a complex interplay between conventional risk factors, genetic predispositions, and environmental influences.