title: Determinants of carotid atherosclerosis in the general Mongolian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerotic risk factors contribute to carotid atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), as assessed using a non-invasive high-resolution ultrasound, can predict cardiovascular disease (CVD). Whereas the control of CVD is crucial for the Mongolian people, the studies on carotid atherosclerosis are lacking. The present population-based survey was a cross-sectional investigation of the determinants of carotid IMT in the general Mongolian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 344 Mongolian volunteers, aged 18 to 69 years, without CVD and on no medication, were recruited from a health screening setting. The current smoking habits, body mass index, mean blood pressure (MBP), blood total cholesterol (TC), glucose, insulin and carotid IMT (maximum level) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mongolian males had a significantly higher prevalence of current smoking and a higher level of IMT than females (average = .58 mm in males vs .46 in females). Both a single and multiple regression analysis adjusted for all the measures revealed that IMT was significantly and positively correlated with age, male sex, MBP, TC and glucose among all of the participants. IMT was significantly and positively correlated with age, followed by MBP, TC and glucose among males, while among females, IMT was significantly and positively correlated with age, followed by MBP and TC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age was the strongest determinant of carotid atherosclerosis, and the increases in blood pressure and cholesterol levels were also important measures in both sexes as well as glucose levels in males in particular, thus suggesting a preventive strategy for CVD in the general Mongolian population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuumarjav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uurtuya
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008986:Mongolia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography