Prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged hypertensive and control subjects. A cross-sectional systematic study with duplex ultrasound
Abstract
Arterial hypertension has been found to increase atherosclerotic lesions, although contradictory results have suggested that hypertension has little or no effect. These discrepancies are probably caused by differences in populations. To examine the effect of hypertension on carotid atherosclerosis in a population-based series of patients with an established diagnosis of arterial hypertension and controls. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques were evaluated with duplex ultrasound in 1031 middle-aged (aged 40-60 years) men (n = 511) and women (n = 520), 513 with arterial hypertension and 518 controls. IMT was measured in the internal carotid artery, bifurcation and proximal, middle and distal common carotid artery, determining mean and maximal values for each patient. Male sex, age, smoking and cholesterol were the most significant risk factors for combined plaque and intima-media thickness (CPIMT); hypertension and and abnormal glucose test result were further significant risk factors. There was a significant difference in CPIMT between the hypertensive and control subjects, but this was caused by the differences in the men; there were no statistically significant differences among the women. Plaques were found more ...Continue Reading
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