Young-Hoon Lee1, Sun-Seog Kweon2, Jin-Su Choi3, Hae-Sung Nam4, Seul-Ki Jeong5, Kyeong-Soo Park6, Seong-Woo Choi7, Hye-Ran Ahn3, Min-Ho Shin8. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine & Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Jeonbuk, South Korea; Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Jeonbuk, South Korea. 2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea; Jeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea. 3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea. 4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea. 5. Department of Neurology, Chonbuk National University Medical School-Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, South Korea. 6. Department of Preventive Medicine, Seonam University College of Medicine, Namwon, Jeonbuk, South Korea. 7. Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea. 8. Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea; Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea. Electronic address: mhshinx@paran.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: There is little evidence for an association between gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and carotid atherosclerosis, an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. We examined the association between serum GGT and carotid atherosclerotic parameters, including carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques, in a large general population. METHODS: The study population consisted of community-dwelling adults who participated in the baseline survey of the Namwon Study. A total of 9120 subjects aged 45-74 years were included in the analyses. High-resolution B-mode ultrasound was used to measure carotid IMT and to evaluate the presence of carotid plaques. A mean carotid IMT of ≥1.0 mm was classified as 'high carotid IMT'. RESULTS: Serum GGT levels were classified into quartiles. In a fully adjusted model, we found no linear trend between GGT quartile and mean carotid IMT (P for trend = 0.167). Compared with the first quartile (the reference category), the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for high carotid IMT were 0.89 (0.68-1.16), 1.10 (0.84-1.43), and 0.97 (0.71-1.33) for the second, third, and fourth quartiles (P for trend = 0.754), respectively. The ORs (95% CIs) for carotid plaques were 0.89 (0.77-1.02), 0.95 (0.82-1.10), and 0.94 (0.79-1.11) for the second, third, and fourth quartiles, respectively, in the fully adjusted model (P for trend = 0.644). CONCLUSIONS: No significant association of GGT concentration with carotid IMT or plaques was found in this large cross-sectional study. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings.
OBJECTIVES: There is little evidence for an association between gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and carotid atherosclerosis, an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. We examined the association between serum GGT and carotid atherosclerotic parameters, including carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques, in a large general population. METHODS: The study population consisted of community-dwelling adults who participated in the baseline survey of the Namwon Study. A total of 9120 subjects aged 45-74 years were included in the analyses. High-resolution B-mode ultrasound was used to measure carotid IMT and to evaluate the presence of carotid plaques. A mean carotid IMT of ≥1.0 mm was classified as 'high carotid IMT'. RESULTS: Serum GGT levels were classified into quartiles. In a fully adjusted model, we found no linear trend between GGT quartile and mean carotid IMT (P for trend = 0.167). Compared with the first quartile (the reference category), the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for high carotid IMT were 0.89 (0.68-1.16), 1.10 (0.84-1.43), and 0.97 (0.71-1.33) for the second, third, and fourth quartiles (P for trend = 0.754), respectively. The ORs (95% CIs) for carotid plaques were 0.89 (0.77-1.02), 0.95 (0.82-1.10), and 0.94 (0.79-1.11) for the second, third, and fourth quartiles, respectively, in the fully adjusted model (P for trend = 0.644). CONCLUSIONS: No significant association of GGT concentration with carotid IMT or plaques was found in this large cross-sectional study. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings.