[Stenosis of the internal carotid arteries and cardiovascular risk factors in a group of patients aged 65 years and over].
BACKGROUND
In the present study, the degree of stenosis of internal carotid arteries and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors are examined.


METHODS
Two hundred patients underwent high resolution B-mode echotomography of the carotid arteries; furthermore, the presence of associated cardiovascular risk factors was considered.


RESULTS
Small stenosis (< 16%) were reported in 113 (56.5%) patients; moderate stenosis (16-49%) were reported in 58 (29%) patients; severe stenosis (50-79%) were reported in 19 (9.5%) patients; subocclusive stenosis (80-99%) were reported in 2 (1%) patients; occlusions were reported in 8 (4%) patients. One hundred and fifty patients (75%) presented one or more associated cardiovascular risk factors. Hypertension was present in 122 (61%) patients; hypercholesterolemia in 43 (21.5%) patients; diabetes mellitus in 41 (20.5%) patients; 26 (13%) patients were smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
According to other studies, stenosis < 50% were the most frequent (85.5%) in the subjects examined. Stenosis > or = 50% were more frequent in males than females. Hypertension was the most frequent associated cardiovascular risk factor; therefore the degree of stenosis increased with the increasing number of cardiovascular risk factors.
Mattace Raso
F
F
Cattedra e Scuola di Specializzazione in Geriatria, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi, Catanzaro.
Rosato
M
M
Rotundo
A
A
Talerico
A
A
Cotronei
P
P
Mattace
R
R
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012744:Sex Ratio