STIFFNESS OF THE COMMON CAROTID-ARTERY IN HEALTHY 50-YEAR-OLD SUBJECTS

We examined whether, in a group of healthy 50 year-old subjects, there was a relation between the stiffness of the common carotid artery and risk factors for atherosclerosis and, further, if there was a sex dif ference in these healthy individuals. A group of 248 healthy subjects (123 men and 125 women), all 50 years of age, were examined. The elast ic properties of the common carotid artery, measured in terms of stiff ness index, were investigated with an ultrasound technique. Men had si gnificantly higher stiffness index than women (5.46 +/- 1.32 vs. 5.04 +/- 1.05, P<0.01). The arterial diameter was significantly larger in m en. When comparing stiffness index in a subgroup of 38 men and women w ith similar arterial diameters, no significant difference in stiffness index was found. Multivariate analysis showed that smoking habits, me asured as pack-years, insulin levels and the low-density lipoprotein ( LDL)-/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)cholesterol ratio was independentl y significantly associated with the stiffness index. Sex did not emerg e as a significant variable. In conclusion, there is a relation betwee n the stiffness of the carotid arteries and risk factors for atheroscl erosis such as smoking, insulin levels and LDL-/HDL-cholesterol ratio in healthy 50-year-old subjects. The stiffness is higher in men than i n women, probably dependent on differences in arterial size and possib ly also on risk factors.