title: Acoustic shadowing on B-mode ultrasound of the carotid artery predicts CHD.
abstract: The relationship between carotid artery lesions (CALs), with and without acoustic shadowing (AS) as an index of arterial mineralization, and incident coronary heart disease (CHD) was examined in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study cohort. Among 12,375 individuals, ages 45-64 years, free of CHD at baseline, 399 CHD events occurred between 1987-1995. In a 3-cm segment centered at the carotid bifurcation, CALs with and without AS were identified by B-mode ultrasound (US). After adjustment for the major CHD risk factors, the CHD hazard ratio (HR) for women with CAL without AS compared to women without CAL was 1.78 (95% CI: 1.22, 2.60) and the HR comparing women with CAL with AS to women with CAL without AS was 1.73 (95% CI: 1.07, 2.80). Corresponding HRs for men were 1.59 (95% CI: 1.22, 2.07) and 1.04 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.51). CALs predicted CHD events; this association was stronger for mineralized CALs in women, but not men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sharrett
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Chambless
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Folsom
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heiss
mesh_terms: D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography