Prevalence and determinants of carotid atherosclerosis in a general population.

• DOI: 10.1161/01.str.23.12.1705
• Publication Date: 2011-06-17T20:08:03Z
• Authors: P Prati; D Vanuzzo; M Casaroli; A Di Chiara; F De Biasi; G A Feruglio; P J Touboul
• Keywords: Stroke; Subclinical infection

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic lesions and their relation principal risk factors. importance between lesions, stroke, coronary atherosclerosis has been widely discussed, but there are few transversal longitudinal studies on a general population.A noninvasive examination carried out using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography, which shown be reliable tool for epidemiological studies. We examined 630 men 718 women aged 18-99 years (participation rate, 74.9%).The global 25.4% in 26.4% women. Intimal-medial thickening found 9.4% 11.7% Plaque 13.3% 13.4% women; stenotic plaques 2.7% 1.5%, respectively. Subjects < or = 39 showed very low any lesions. In multiple logistic regression, analysis subjects > 40 positive significant association severity (plaques stenosis) age (p 0.001), systolic blood pressure 0.01), cigarette smoking 0.0001), protective effect high density lipoprotein cholesterol 0.037). This did not provide evidence clear-cut factors intimal-medial thickening.This population shows (approximately 25% adults) its with classic It emphasizes value ultrasonography detection early