Carotid artery intima media thickness, plaque and Framingham cardiovascular score in Asia, Africa/Middle East and Latin America: the PARC-AALA study.
OBJECTIVE
The PARC-AALA (Paroi artérielle et Risque Cardiovasculaire in Asia Africa/ Middle East and Latin America) study was designed to evaluate the correlation between intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCAIMT), carotid plaque and absolute cardiovascular risk in a multi-ethnic population.


METHODS
An international, cross-sectional, study including 79 centres from 21 countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Two thousand three hundred and twenty-eight subjects, meeting all inclusion criteria, were stratified by risk factors groups (no modifiable factor or at least both uncontrolled hypertension and hypercholesterolemia). CCAIMT, presence of plaque and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed for each individual.


RESULTS
Some intergeographical characteristics in demographics, and risk factors were found accompanying early atherosclerosis marker differences. In Asia where the subjects were at lower risk, the mean CCAIMT was 4% lower than in Africa/Middle East and Latin America. On multiple linear regression analysis CCAIMT and carotid plaque were independently associated with increased Framingham cardiovascular score (FCS) without heterogeneity across geographic regions. CCAIMT and carotid plaque explained roughly 20% of the FCS in both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
The PARC-AALA study confirms the correlation between CCAIMT and FCS in three different populations. Intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque evaluation may represent a complementary predictive tool for detection of cardiovascular disease in individuals.
Touboul
Pierre-Jean
PJ
Department of Neurology and Stroke Centre, Denis Diderot University-Paris VII., 48 Rue R Huchard, Paris 75018, France. pjtw@noos.fr
Hernández-Hernández
Rafael
R
Küçükoğlu
Serdar
S
Woo
Kam-Sang
KS
Vicaut
Eric
E
Labreuche
Julien
J
Migom
Chris
C
Silva
Honorio
H
Vinueza
Raul
R
D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D001208:Asia; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007843:Latin America; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography