COMPARATIVE STUDY
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Cardiovascular risk profile of asymptomatic healthy young adults with increased carotid artery intima-media thickness: the Bogalusa Heart Study.

OBJECTIVE: The cardiovascular (CV) risk profile of healthy young adults was studied at the extreme 5th percentiles of carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) as measured by B-mode ultrasonography in different segments of the carotid artery.

METHODS: Anthropometric variables, blood pressure, laboratory data, family history health habits were collected from 518 individuals (mean age 32 years). Individuals in the top and bottom 5th percentiles of IMT of carotid bulb or bifurcation area (n = 22) and the common carotid (n = 25) segments were examined for presence of risk factors. Univariate analyses compared the two groups, t tests, and chi-square tests were performed.

RESULTS: The common carotid segment top and bottom percentiles of IMT differed with respect to age (p < 0.000), BMI (p < 0.001). In contrast, carotid bulb segment top and bottom percentiles differed with respect to age, (p = 0.001), BMI (p = 0.004), HDL cholesterol (p 0.006), LDL cholesterol (p = 0.023), ECG diagnosis (p = 0.016), smoking status (p = 0.004). The individuals in the top 5th percentile of IMT of the bifurcation area were more obese (BMI > 30), hypertensive (BP > 140/90 or on medications), dyslipidemic (LDL > 130 mg/dl, triglycerides > 150, HDL < 40 mg/dl), and more often had an abnormal ECG, and a history of smoking.

CONCLUSION: The observed deleterious effect of CV risk factors on IMT of the carotid artery, a surrogate measure of coronary atherosclerosis, underscores the risk factor profile history in youth. The prevalence of multiple risk factors among those in the top 5th percentile of IMT was significantly higher with respect to the carotid bulb segment only (p = 0.000), suggesting more sensitivity to the risk factor burden compared with the common carotid segment. These observations have important implications in preventive cardiology.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app