Increased body weight in men after the age of 55 is a risk factor for internal carotid artery stenosis: an epidemiological study of men aged 69.

A population-based cohort of 393 men born in 1914 and residing in the city of Malmö, Sweden, was examined at ages 55 and 69 years, respectively, with regard to risk factors for arteriosclerotic vascular and coronary disease. At age 69 an examination of the carotid arteries with Doppler ultrasound was carried out also, to establish the prevalence and degree of stenosis in the carotid vessels. The material was analysed for the following risk factors for internal carotid artery stenosis: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, haematocrit, gamma glutamyl transferase (GT), blood glucose, body mass index (BMI), body weight change (BWC), and smoking. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that only increased body weight between 55 and 69 years of age and the earlier known risk factor, smoking, remained as independent risk factors for developing carotid artery disease.