CAROTID PLAQUES, AGING, AND RISK-FACTORS FOR ATHEROSCLEROSIS

The prevalence of extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis and its relations to principal cardiovascular risk factors at different ages w as evaluated in a sample of general population. High resolution B-mode ultrasonography was used to investigate the carotid district in 457 s ubjects (231 males and 226 females, mean age 55.4 +/- 18.7 years, rang e 18-97 years) of the metropolitan area. The ultrasonographic findings were then related to primary risk factors. Carotid plaques were found in 178 subjects (38.5 %). Prevalence of atherosclerosis, number of pl aques and percentage of stenosis have been observed to increase with a ge. The main cardiovascular risk factors resulted significantly associ ated with carotid atherosclerosis in the total series and, more strong ly, in subjects under 65 years. In the group aged 65 years and over, m ost of these associations were no longer found. In the multiple logist ic regression model, analysis of subjects under 65 years showed positi ve and independent associations between carotid atherosclerosis and ag e (p < 0.0001), cigarette smoking (p < 0.001), number of cigarettes sm oked each day (p < 0.01). and a negative association with HDL/total ch olesterol ratio (p < 0.001). The analysis of subjects aged 65 years or more showed positive independent associations only with age (p < 0.00 1) and male gender (p < 0.01). In conclusion, there is a high prevalen ce of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis in the general population, particularly in advanced age. In the elderly the association between r isk factors and carotid atherosclerosis has not yet been found.