Abstract P298: Neck Circumference is Associated with Carotid Intimal-media Thickness but Not with Coronary Artery Calcium: Results From the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health ELSA-Brasil

Abstract

Introduction: Neck circumference has been independently associated with cardiovascular risk factors in various populations. Whether neck circumference can be a risk indicator for subclinical atherosclerosis remains uncertain. Hypothesis: Neck circumference can be a marker of local subclinical atherosclerosis in The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods: In cross-sectional and sex-specific analyses of 2,266 women (50.6 ±8.4 yrs) and 1,886 men (50.7 ±9.0 yrs) with both cc-IMT and CAC, free from previous coronary heart disease at baseline, we built logistic models using diverse cut-off points for CAC score (0vs>0, <100 vs ≥100, <400 vs ≥400 Agatston units) and cc-IMT ( < 75th percentile vs ≥75 th ; < 90th percentile vs ≥90 th ) as dependent variables, after which adjustments for age and traditional cardiovascular risk factors were made. Results: Mean (standard deviation) neck circumference was 33.6 (±2.4 cm) for women and 38.8 (±2.6 cm) for men. In fully adjusted models including sociodemographic, cardiovascular risk factors and body-mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, for each 1 standard deviation increase in neck circumference we found an odds ratio (OR, 95% CI) for having IMT above the 75th percentile of [1.52, 1.16; 1.99)]for women and [1.66, 1.28; 2.14)] for men, and above the 90th cc-IMT percentile [1.66 (1.19; 2.32)]for men but not for women [1.21 (0.80; 1.82)]. We found no association between neck circumference and CAC using several different cut-off points (p>0.05 for all). Conclusion: Neck circumference was significantly and independently associated with cc-IMT but not with CAC in women and men, indicating a possible effect of perivascular fat tissue on atherosclerosis.