[Detection rate of carotid artery plaque in Uygur, Kazakh and Han populations of Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the detection rate of carotid artery plaque in Han, Uygur and Kazakh adult populations of Xinjiang.

METHODS: During the period of October 2007 to March 2010, the present study was performed in 13896 Han, Uygur and Kazakh adults of Xinjiang aged 35 years old and over by a four-stage random sampling method. All subjects were investigated by a standardized questionnaire, physical, biochemical examination and ultrasonography of carotid arteries. Risk factors were analyzed by a logistic regression model.

RESULTS: The prevalence of carotid artery plaque was 10.2%. After standardization, the detection rate of Chinese Han, Uygur and Kazakh populations was 2.46%, 2.31% and 1.84% respectively. By the analysis of multivariate logistic regression, age (OR 1.032, 95%CI 1.026-1.037), smoking (OR 1.358, 95%CI 1.164-1.585), total cholesterol (OR 1.075, 95%CI 1.018-1.135), blood glucose (OR 1.050, 95%CI 1.020-1.081) and systolic blood pressure (OR 1.011, 95%CI 1.008-1.014) were independent risk factors in the occurrence of carotid artery plaque. Females (OR 0.653, 95%CI 0.545-0.738) and high-density lipoprotein (OR 0.864, 95%CI 0.751-0.994) were the protective factors in the occurrence of carotid artery plaque.

CONCLUSION: The detection of carotid artery plaque in Xinjiang increases substantially with age and difference exists between nationalities. The associated risk factors of the formation of carotid artery plaque include gender, age, smoking, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, blood glucose and systolic blood pressure. The effect of these factors is different between genders.