The prevalence and risk factors of carotid atherosclerosis in elderly patients
Shi, Z.; Shen, P.; Shen, G.
Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 35(1): 25-27
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0578-1426 PMID: 9275642 Document Number: 462956
To assess the prevalence of extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis and its relation to principal cardiovascular risk factors in Chinese elderly patients, 100 cases aged from 54 to 94 were investigated with B-mode ultrasonography. Arterial intima-media thickening, plaque, mild stenosis (defined as a plaque that obstructed > 20% of the lumen diameter), and clinically significant stenosis (> 50% in cross-sectional area) were found in 79, 49, 40 and 3 patients, respectively. There was no significant correlation between carotid atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction, hypertension, hyperlipidemia or diabetes. In contrast, the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was increased with age (P < 0.05), so did the severity. Thus, age is a major risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly.