BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is epidemiological evidence that increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. However, the significance of carotid IMT in high-risk patients in whom risk factors are managed clinically has not been adequately investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of carotid IMT measurement in such patients. METHODS: The study comprised 900 outpatients with cardiovascular risk factors or established atherosclerosis. Carotid IMT was calculated as the mean bilateral IMT of the common carotid artery, bifurcation, and internal carotid artery. Baseline vascular risk factors, medications, and history of CVD were recorded at the time of enrollment. The incidence of CVD events was determined prospectively. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up period of 2.6 years, there were 64 CVD events. The relative risk (RR) of a CVD event increased with increased IMT. Association between CVD events and carotid IMT was significant after adjustment for risk factors and history of CVD, showing an increased risk per IMT tertile from the middle tertile (RR, 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-6.3) to the highest (RR, 3.6; 95% CI: 1.4-9.0). When patients with a history of CVD were excluded (n = 574), the predictive value of IMT was significant even after adjustment for risk factors (hazard ratio per 1 SD IMT increase was 1.57 [95% CI: 1.11-2.20]). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid IMT is an independent predictor of vascular events in high-risk patients in whom risk factors are managed clinically.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is epidemiological evidence that increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. However, the significance of carotid IMT in high-risk patients in whom risk factors are managed clinically has not been adequately investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of carotid IMT measurement in such patients. METHODS: The study comprised 900 outpatients with cardiovascular risk factors or established atherosclerosis. Carotid IMT was calculated as the mean bilateral IMT of the common carotid artery, bifurcation, and internal carotid artery. Baseline vascular risk factors, medications, and history of CVD were recorded at the time of enrollment. The incidence of CVD events was determined prospectively. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up period of 2.6 years, there were 64 CVD events. The relative risk (RR) of a CVD event increased with increased IMT. Association between CVD events and carotid IMT was significant after adjustment for risk factors and history of CVD, showing an increased risk per IMT tertile from the middle tertile (RR, 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-6.3) to the highest (RR, 3.6; 95% CI: 1.4-9.0). When patients with a history of CVD were excluded (n = 574), the predictive value of IMT was significant even after adjustment for risk factors (hazard ratio per 1 SD IMT increase was 1.57 [95% CI: 1.11-2.20]). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid IMT is an independent predictor of vascular events in high-risk patients in whom risk factors are managed clinically.
Authors: Elena Tessitore; Tatjana Rundek; Zhezhen Jin; Shunichi Homma; Ralph L Sacco; Marco R Di Tullio Journal: J Am Soc Echocardiogr Date: 2010-05-26 Impact factor: 5.251
Authors: H M den Ruijter; S A E Peters; K A Groenewegen; T J Anderson; A R Britton; J M Dekker; G Engström; M J Eijkemans; G W Evans; J de Graaf; D E Grobbee; B Hedblad; A Hofman; S Holewijn; A Ikeda; M Kavousi; K Kitagawa; A Kitamura; H Koffijberg; M A Ikram; E M Lonn; M W Lorenz; E B Mathiesen; G Nijpels; S Okazaki; D H O'Leary; J F Polak; J F Price; C Robertson; C M Rembold; M Rosvall; T Rundek; J T Salonen; M Sitzer; C D A Stehouwer; J C Witteman; K G Moons; M L Bots Journal: Diabetologia Date: 2013-04-09 Impact factor: 10.122
Authors: Michiel L Bots; Karlijn A Groenewegen; Todd J Anderson; Annie R Britton; Jacqueline M Dekker; Gunnar Engström; Greg W Evans; Jacqueline de Graaf; Diederick E Grobbee; Bo Hedblad; Albert Hofman; Suzanne Holewijn; Ai Ikeda; Maryam Kavousi; Kazuo Kitagawa; Akihiko Kitamura; M Arfan Ikram; Eva M Lonn; Matthias W Lorenz; Ellisiv B Mathiesen; Giel Nijpels; Shuhei Okazaki; Daniel H O'Leary; Joseph F Polak; Jacqueline F Price; Christine Robertson; Christopher M Rembold; Maria Rosvall; Tatjana Rundek; Jukka T Salonen; Matthias Sitzer; Coen D A Stehouwer; Oscar H Franco; Sanne A E Peters; Hester M den Ruijter Journal: Hypertension Date: 2014-03-10 Impact factor: 10.190
Authors: Seraina Cooksley-Decasper; Hans Reiser; Daniela S Thommen; Barbara Biedermann; Michel Neidhart; Joanna Gawinecka; Gieri Cathomas; Fabian C Franzeck; Christophe Wyss; Roland Klingenberg; Paolo Nanni; Bernd Roschitzki; Christian Matter; Petra Wolint; Maximilian Y Emmert; Marc Husmann; Beatrice Amann-Vesti; Wilibald Maier; Steffen Gay; Thomas F Lüscher; Arnold von Eckardstein; Danielle Hof Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-10-24 Impact factor: 3.240