title: The significance of multiple risk factors for early carotid atherosclerosis in Japanese subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the significance of multiple risk factors for early carotid atherosclerosis in the Japanese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relation between traditional vascular risk factors and serum high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) or atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid arteries detected by B-mode ultrasonography was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 1,880 persons (1,240 men and 640 women, mean age 55+/-10 years old) without ischemic stroke, infection or collagen diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the men, the odds ratio (OR) for atherosclerotic lesion was increased at 1.90 (95% CI: 1.05-3.43, P=0.032) in those with one risk factor, 2.42 (1.36-4.32, P=0.002) in those with two, and 2.95 (1.69-5.16, P<0.001) in those with three or more. In the women, the OR was similarly increased 1.93 (95% CI: 1.04-3.56, P=0.035) for one risk factor, 2.31 (1.23-4.33, P=0.009) for two, and 3.52 (1.80-6.87, P<0.001) for three or more. The mean hs-CRP concentration increased significantly with the increasing number of risk factors (men and women, P<0.001) and with the degree of carotid arterial stenosis (men, P=0.011; women, P=0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple risk factors are more predictive than a single risk factor for early carotid atherosclerosis in the Japanese population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara. kawasi29@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Wakoh
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Tomohide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohnuki
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honma
authors.forename: Shiaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: Shigeharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takagi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein