Abstract 12149: Associations of Intima-Media Thickness of Different Segments of Carotid Arteries and Prevalent Cardio-Metabolic Diseases in Middle-age Adults and Elders in Taiwan

Abstract

Background and Aim: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a well-studied phenotype of atherosclerosis in developed countries, however, there was only a few studies in developing countries. The aim of the study was to explore the relationships between carotid IMTs and prevalent cardio-metabolic diseases in Chinese. Methods: 1579 residents aged 40-74 years from three communities in northern Taiwan were recruited in 2010-2012. The far-wall intima-media thickness (IMTs) of the right and left common carotid arteries (CCAs), internal carotid arteries (ICA), and carotid bifurcation (BIF) were measured by B mode ultrasound. All participants were assessed for cardio-metabolic profiles and 10-year general cardiovascular risks by the Framingham Risk Score. Results: Correlation analyses showed that there were significant linear trends with age and estimated 10-year general cardiovascular risks for all segmental carotid IMTs. The linear trends were the strongest for CCA IMTs, followed by BIF IMTs, and the least for ICA IMTs, and stronger for the average IMTs of the right and left carotid arteries than one-sided IMTs alone. Male sex, central obesity, high BMI, high LDL-/HLD-C ratio, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar were significantly correlated with thicker carotid IMTs. Subjects affected with hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) had significantly thicker carotid IMTs. After adjustment for traditional cardio-metabolic risk factors, subjects who had mean or maximum CCA or mean BIF IMTs >= the 3rd quartiles had significantly higher likelihoods of having prevalent CVDs. The adjusted ORs were 2.13 (95% CI: 1.30-3.49), 1.73 (95% CI: 1.06-2.82), and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.01-2.51), respectively. The adjusted ORs were not significant for subjects who had elevated mean or maximum ICA or maximum BIF IMTs. Conclusions: Carotid IMTs were significantly correlated with most traditional cardio-metabolic risk factors. Among different segmental carotid IMTs, CCA IMTs demonstrated stronger associations with prevalent CVDs and DM. Carotid IMTs may be used as an intermediate marker of advanced vascular diseases in Chinese.