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Carotid artery and left ventricular structural relationship in asymptomatic men at risk for cardiovascular disease
A Linhart1, J Gariepy, P Giral
1Centre de Médecine Préventive Cardio-Vasculaire, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.
Insights
Carotid artery intima-media complex area (IMC-CSA) is a relevant indicator of left ventricular (LV) mass in men at cardiovascular risk. This finding suggests IMC-CSA can help assess cardiovascular health, even with normal LV mass.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease risk factors are prevalent in asymptomatic individuals.
- Assessing subclinical cardiovascular changes is crucial for early intervention.
- Left ventricular (LV) mass is a marker of cardiac remodeling and cardiovascular risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between carotid artery structures and LV mass in asymptomatic men at cardiovascular risk.
- To determine if carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and intima-media complex area (IMC-CSA) correlate with LV mass.
- To identify independent predictors of LV mass in this population.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography was used to assess LV mass.
- Automated technique measured right common carotid far wall intima-media thickness (IMT).
- Intima-media complex area (IMC-CSA) was calculated using IMT and lumen diameter (D).
Main Results:
- LV mass showed significant correlations with both IMT (r=0.54) and IMC-CSA (r=0.62).
- Multivariate analysis identified IMC-CSA as an independent predictor of LV mass (P<0.001).
- Other significant predictors included body mass index, smoking dose, and systolic blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- Intima-media complex area (IMC-CSA) is a clinically relevant, independent indicator of LV mass.
- This association holds true even within the normal range of LV mass.
- Carotid artery ultrasound parameters may offer valuable insights into cardiac structure in at-risk individuals.
Abstract:
To determine whether a relationship between echographically assessed carotid artery and left ventricular (LV) structures existed in asymptomatic men at risk for cardiovascular disease, we evaluated carotid and LV parameters in 69 subjects (23-62 years) without LV hypertrophy. The right common carotid far wall intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured using an automated technique and the cross-sectional intima-media complex area (IMC-CSA) was calculated, assuming a circular profile of carotid wall layers, as (IMC-CSA = pi x IMT x (IMT + D)), D being the lumen diameter. LV mass was evaluated using the M-mode echocardiography. Among study subjects 30% were hypertensive, 67% hypercholesterolemic, 21% current smokers and 52% had a positive smoking history. In the study population LV mass correlated both with IMT (r = 0.54, P < 0.001) and IMC-CSA (r = 0.62, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis LV mass was associated with IMC-CSA (P < 0.001), body mass index (P < 0.01), lifelong smoking dose (P < 0.01) and systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05), r2 = 0.58, P < 0.001. Therefore, IMC-CSA may be a clinically relevant independent indicator of LV mass even within its normal ranges.