title: Risk factors for subclinical carotid atherosclerosis among current smokers.
abstract: This study characterized the determinants of carotid atherosclerosis in a large contemporary sample of current smokers. Associations between risk factors, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and carotid plaque presence were determined by multivariable regression. Participants included 1504 current smokers (58% female) who were a median (interquartile range) of 44.7 (38-53) years old and smoked 25 (15-40) pack-years; 55% had plaque. Pack-years, age, male sex, nonwhite race, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, small low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), and total high-density lipoproteins were independently associated with CIMT (model R(2) =0.434, P<.001). Pack-years (odds ratio [OR], 1.14 per 10 pack-years; P=.001), age (OR, 1.75 per 10 years; P<.001), body mass index (OR, 0.91 per 5 kg/m(2) ; P=.035), and small LDLs (OR, 1.11 per 100 nmol/L; P<.001) were independently associated with carotid plaque presence (model χ(2) =210.7, P<.001). The association between pack-years and carotid plaque was stronger in women (OR, 1.09 per 10 pack-years, P(interaction) =.018).
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Megan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Piper
authors.forename: Douglas E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jorenby
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: Timothy B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013599:Systole; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL