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Quantitative assessment of carotid atherosclerosis in a healthy population
Insights
Carotid atherosclerosis is common in healthy adults, affecting nearly half of men and over a third of women. Sex differences in prevalence narrow with age, with the 60s being a key decade for advanced carotid artery disease development.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Carotid atherosclerosis is a significant risk factor for ischemic heart disease and stroke.
- Understanding its prevalence in a general population is crucial for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and extent of carotid atherosclerosis in a healthy population.
- To investigate sex and age-specific differences in carotid atherosclerosis.
- To identify critical age periods for advanced carotid artery disease development.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 909 healthy men and women aged 40-79 years.
- Duplex ultrasound imaging was used to assess carotid arteries.
- Analysis included prevalence rates, sex differences, and age-related trends.
Main Results:
- Atherosclerotic lesions were detected in 47.8% of men and 36.3% of women.
- Sex differences were most pronounced between ages 40-60, converging in the 7th decade.
- The 60-69 age group showed the highest development of advanced carotid artery disease.
- Internal carotid artery stenosis (>50%) occurred in 10.5% of elderly men and 5.5% of elderly women.
Conclusions:
- Carotid atherosclerosis is prevalent in a general healthy population, with higher rates in men.
- The 6th and 7th decades of life are critical for the progression of carotid artery disease.
- Lumen diameter can serve as an indirect vascular status indicator in nonstenotic disease.
Abstract:
To evaluate the prevalence and extent of carotid atherosclerosis in a general healthy population, duplex ultrasound imaging was performed in 909 men and women aged 40-79 years as part of the prospective Bruneck Ischemic Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Study. Atherosclerotic lesions were found in 47.8% of men and 36.3% of women. Sex differences in the prevalence rates were most pronounced from age 40 to 60 years with a convergence occurring in the 7th decade. The age range of 60-69 years was found to be the crucial period for the development of advanced carotid artery disease. The frequency of internal carotid artery stenosis (> 50%) in elderly men and women (60-79 years) was 10.5 and 5.5%. In nonstenotic carotid artery disease the lumen diameter turned out to be a useful indirect measure of the vascular status.