Xuefang Yu1, Bo Bian1, Jinyong Huang1, Wei Yao1, Xianming Wu1, Jingjing Huang1, Jinghua Wang2,3,4, Qing Yang1, Xianjia Ning2,3,4. 1. Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. 2. Department of Neurology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. 3. Laboratory of Epidemiology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin, China. 4. Key Laboratory of Post-Neuroinjury Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin, China.
Abstract
Objective: To examine the mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and potentially relevant determinants of increased CIMT in elders.Method: Stroke-free and cardiovascular disease-free residents aged ≥65 years were recruited in a low-income population in China. B-mode ultrasonography was performed to measure CIMT. Results: A total of 1039 individuals (47.9% men) were recruited. The mean CIMT value was 0.60 (SD: 0.09) mm. The mean CIMT was 24.07 (SEM: 6.52) µm greater in men than in women (P < 0.001) and 28.29 (SEM: 7.47) µm greater in patients with hypertension than in those without hypertension (P < 0.001). Moreover, the mean CIMT increased by 1.53 (SEM: 0.49) µm for each 1-year increase in age (P = 0.002). However, the mean CIMT decreased by 5.55 (SEM: 2.40) μm and 6.45 (SEM: 2.62) μm for every 1-mmol/L increase in triglyceride concentration and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, respectively (P < 0.05). However, high triglyceride level was negatively associated with mean CIMT only among individuals without metabolic syndrome (P = 0.036).Discussion: These findings suggest that there is an urgent need to delay atherosclerosis progression and reduce the stroke burden by managing hypertension, especially for men. Moreover, to decrease the stroke burden in rural China, caution is advised regarding lipid-lowering treatment in elderly patients without metabolic syndrome.
Objective: To examine the mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and potentially relevant determinants of increased CIMT in elders.Method: Stroke-free and cardiovascular disease-free residents aged ≥65 years were recruited in a low-income population in China. B-mode ultrasonography was performed to measure CIMT. Results: A total of 1039 individuals (47.9% men) were recruited. The mean CIMT value was 0.60 (SD: 0.09) mm. The mean CIMT was 24.07 (SEM: 6.52) µm greater in men than in women (P < 0.001) and 28.29 (SEM: 7.47) µm greater in patients with hypertension than in those without hypertension (P < 0.001). Moreover, the mean CIMT increased by 1.53 (SEM: 0.49) µm for each 1-year increase in age (P = 0.002). However, the mean CIMT decreased by 5.55 (SEM: 2.40) μm and 6.45 (SEM: 2.62) μm for every 1-mmol/L increase in triglyceride concentration and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, respectively (P < 0.05). However, high triglyceride level was negatively associated with mean CIMT only among individuals without metabolic syndrome (P = 0.036).Discussion: These findings suggest that there is an urgent need to delay atherosclerosis progression and reduce the stroke burden by managing hypertension, especially for men. Moreover, to decrease the stroke burden in rural China, caution is advised regarding lipid-lowering treatment in elderly patients without metabolic syndrome.