Analysis of Korean Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Korean Healthy Subjects and Patients with Risk Factors: Korea Multi-Center Epidemiological Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives:We performed this study to evaluate the common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA IMT), and its correlation with several clinical variables, including the 10 year coronary heart disease (10 Yr CHD) risk in both healthy and hyperlipidemic hypertensive (HH) Koreans. Subjects and Methods:This was a multi-centered prospective epidemiological study. The study population consisted of 227 healthy subjects without risk factors, with the exception of age (mean 49 years old, 114 males), and 243 HH subjects (mean 51 years old, 120 males). The carotid IMT and presence of plaques were semi automatically measured in both carotid arteries at a central reading facility. Results:Linear regression analysis of all the subjects revealed that the independent factors of both CCA IMT were age, pulse pressure (PP) and HDL-cholesterol, and that of the right CCA IMT were sex and 10 Yr CHD risk. In healthy subjects, the independent factor of both CCA IMTs was age, and that of the right CCA IMT was body weight. In the HH subjects, age, sex, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and PP were independent factors of both CCA IMTs, but 10 Yr CHD risk was an independent factor of only the right CCA IMT. Carotid plaques were seen in 17% of the healthy subjects and 35% of the HH subjects. An ROC curve analysis showed a right CCA IMT of 0.646 mm and left CCA IMT of 0.656 mm demonstrated 60% sensitivity and specificity in differentiating healthy from HH subjects. Conclusion:This result reliably demonstrates the Korean CCA IMT, as well as several other significant pieces of information. (Korean Circulation J 2005;35:513-524)