Carotid atherosclerosis and the risk factors in early postmenopausal Chinese women.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the distribution of intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of plaque by carotid segments, walls and sides, and to examine their associated risk factors in asymptomatic, early postmenopausal Chinese women in Hong Kong.


METHODS
Between 2002 and 2004, the study recruited 518 postmenopausal women aged 50-64 years. They were examined by B-mode ultrasound to measure the IMT and the prevalence of plaque at the near and far walls of common carotid (CCA), bifurcation (bulb), and internal carotid (ICA) of both the left and right carotid arteries. Blood pressures, obesity indices, lipids and glucose levels, sociodemographic, medical and lifestyle factors were also obtained.


RESULTS
The mean IMT was 0.76+/-0.12 mm (range: 0.53-1.33 mm). IMT was significantly thicker on the far wall than on the near wall and differed among segments (being thickest at the bulb and the narrowest at the ICA). 21.8% had at least one plaque in the carotid artery with most of the plaque found at the bulb area. Systolic blood pressure had statistically significant relationship with IMT that were fairly homogeneous among different segments. Lipids were associated with the CCA and bulb IMT, but not the ICA IMT. Diabetes predicted only CCA IMT. Older age, higher waist-hip-ratio and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significant predictors of plaques at all sites combined.


CONCLUSIONS
We described the distribution of IMT and the prevalence of plaque in asymptomatic, early postmenopausal Chinese women. Associations of risk factors with IMT of different arterial segments were also observed.
Yu
Ruby H Y
RH
Department of Community and Family Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Ho
Suzanne C
SC
Ho
Stella S Y
SS
Chan
Sophie S G
SS
Woo
Jean L F
JL
Ahuja
A T
AT
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids