title: Relationship between carotid intima-media thickness, atherosclerosis risk factors and birthweight in young males.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autopsy and ultrasonographic studies reveal atheromatous lesions in many young subjects. The progression of these changes depends on the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. Some studies have suggested that coronary risk may depend also on birthweight.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), atherosclerosis risk factors and birthweight in young males.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 110 males aged 27-32 years, born after 36 weeks of gestational age. We took their anthropometric measurements, performed blood tests, and measured blood pressure and right CIMT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with CIMT 〉 0.6 mm (n = 30), in comparison with the group with CIMT £ 0.6 mm (n = 80), had significantly lower mean birthweight (3,224 g vs 3,556 g, p = 0.001), lower mean serum HDL-cholesterol level (1.19 vs 1.36 mmol/L, p = 0.012), higher TC/HDL ratio (4.36 vs 3.71, p = 0.009), higher fasting serum glucose level (5.48 vs 5.28 mmol/L, p = 0.045), higher HbA1c (5.63 vs 5.40%, p = 0.044), and slightly higher (at the border of statistical significance) insulin resistance index HOMA-IR (2.56 vs 2.25, p = 0.074). In the group with CIMT 〉 0.6 mm, metabolic syndrome was more prevalent (43.3% vs 22.5%, p = 0.031). Adjustment either for body mass index or waist circumference, and for HDL- -cholesterol level or TC/HDL ratio or fasting glucose level or HbA1c or HOMA-IR did not remove the negative effects of lower birthweight on the risk of CIMT 〉 0.6 mm as well as the adjustment for the presence of metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CIMT value in young males is independently related both with birthweight and disturbances of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. dorota.szostak-wegierek@wum.edu.pl
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Szostak-Węgierek
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szamotulska
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maj
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D001724:Birth Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors