Prevalence and Risk Factors of Abnormal Carotid Artery in Young Adults without Overt Cardiovascular Disease

The current study was to evaluate the prevalence of increased carotid artery intimal-medial thickness (IMT) and carotid plaque in young individuals and factors associated with increased IMT and carotid plaque were also assessed.

Individuals between 18 and 44 years old who underwent an annual health examination and without cardiovascular disease were included. The value of IMT ≥0.1 cm was defined as increased IMT and IMT ≥0.15 cm was defined as carotid plaque. Based on the IMT, participants were divided into normal and abnormal groups.

A total of 551 individuals were included and the mean age was 38.9 years old, with women accounting for 32.5% (n=179) and 238 (43.2%) individuals with abnormal IMT. Those with abnormal IMT was older, more likely to be male and smoking, had higher blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI). Individuals with abnormal MIT also had worse lipid profiles, higher serum levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, homocysteine, and uric acid. Age, male sex, elevated systolic and diastolic BP, BMI, HbA1c, FPG, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-C, homocysteine, and uric acid were positively correlated with IMT, while HDL-C was negatively correlated with IMT. Factors associated with increased IMT and carotid plaque included age, male sex, BMI, triglyceride, LDL-C, homocysteine, uric acid, and smoking.

Among apparent healthy young individuals, the prevalence of increased IMT was high and there were several factors associated with increased IMT. Further studies are needed to evaluate how to be better in preventing the development of subclinical atherosclerosis among young individuals.