title: Study of the intima-media thickening in carotid arteries of healthy elderly with high blood pressure and elderly with high blood pressure and dyslipidemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the mean intima-media thickening of carotid arteries of elderly subjects, and its relationship with age, anthropometric measurements, high systolic blood pressure and dyslipidemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this investigation, 129 subjects were enrolled between 1995 and 1998, age ranging from 29 to 94 years. They were assigned to one of 4 groups, including 2 control groups (group I, of healthy younger subjects; group II of healthy elderly subjects). Groups III and IV included those who presented with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), and ISH and dyslipidemia, respectively. All subjects were submitted to a medical interview, lab tests with measurement of cholesterol levels, electrocardiogram, and carotid ultrasound. The ultrasound included measurement of the intima-media thickening (IMT) of the carotid arteries, the right carotid artery (RCA) and left carotid artery (LCA), and assessment of the presence of plaques. Blood fat and glucose were measured by a standard method. The results were compared among the groups through statistical tests. The tests employed were: Chi-Square, Pearson's and Likelihood Ratio, Student's t, Mann-Whitney; ANOVA followed by Tukey's test, Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test, and test for multiple comparisons and Odds Ratio determination (OR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this investigation, a positive association was observed between aging and IMT. In relation to systolic hypertension, a significant association was observed with IMT (IMT-RCA p = 0.0034; IMT-LCAp = 0.0196; IMT-RLCAp = 0.0299), and with the presence of plaques (PlaqueR p = 0.0110; PlaqueL p = 0.0294; PlaqueRL p = 0.0040).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation evidenced the important role of aging in IMT, and of systolic hypertension in the IMT and presence of plaque. However, further studies are needed for a better understanding of the actual role of risk factors in aging.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Pedro Ernesto University Hospital, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. elizabet@rio.com.br
authors.forename: Elizabete Viana
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: de Freitas
authors.forename: Andréa Araújo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pozzan
authors.forename: Maria Eliane
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Magãlhies
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castier
authors.forename: Airton Pires
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Brandão
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult