title: [Risk factors for a high carotid intima media thickness among healthy adults].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is a marker of cardiovascular damage that can be modified by traditional risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine attributable risk factors for a high CIMT among healthy adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 1270 individuals (636 males and 634 females) aged 44 ± 11 years, was studied. Blood pressure, weight, height, lipid profile and blood glucose were measured in all. CIMT and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques were determined by carotid ultrasound. Standard criteria were used to define hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean CIMT in the sample studied was 0.62 ± 0.01 mm and percentile 75 was 0.67. The most important risk factor for a CIMT over percentile 75 and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques was hypertension with attributable risks of 54 and 57%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this sample, the main risk factor for a high CIMT was hypertension.
authors: División de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago Centro, Chile. macevedo@med.puc.cl
authors: Mónica
authors: M
authors: Acevedo
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Tagle
authors: Verónica
authors: V
authors: Kramer
authors: Pilar
authors: P
authors: Arnaíz
authors: Arnaldo
authors: A
authors: Marín
authors: Felipe
authors: F
authors: Pino
authors: Iván
authors: I
authors: Godoy
authors: Ximena
authors: X
authors: Berríos
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Navarrete
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors