Carotid intima media thickness in multiple sclerosis: A CLSA study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is linked to increased atherosclerotic disease incidence, including heart disease and stroke.
• Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) serves as a key surrogate marker for atherosclerosis.
• This study investigates CIMT in MS patients compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) between individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and those without MS.
• To assess subclinical atherosclerosis rates in MS patients.
• To determine if MS is an independent predictor of atherosclerosis beyond established cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) excluding participants with pre-existing vascular disease.
• Measured CIMT via carotid ultrasound in participants with MS, RA, and controls.
• Employed logistic regression, adjusting for Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and other covariates, to analyze associations between cohort membership and atherosclerosis (CIMT ≥75th percentile).

Main Results:

• No significant difference in average CIMT was found between MS, RA, and control groups.
• Cohort membership (MS, RA, controls) was not associated with subclinical atherosclerosis based on CIMT.
• A higher Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was significantly associated with increased odds of atherosclerosis.

Conclusions:

• Average CIMT does not differ between individuals with MS, RA, or neither condition.
• Subclinical atherosclerosis in MS patients is not elevated beyond predictions based on the FRS.
• Further research is required to elucidate mechanisms behind increased cardiovascular disease and stroke rates in MS.