title: [Distribution of carotid intima media thickness in men and women with and without coronary heart disease. Cross-sectional data of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to introduce population-based sex and age-stratified distributions of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), to compare fixed cut-off and percentile values for subjects with and without known coronary heart disease (CHD) and to describe CIMT percentiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2000 and 2003, a total of 4,814 subjects aged 45-75 years were recruited into the Heinz Nixdorf recall study (HNR). Ultrasound examination of extracranial arteries was performed and the CIMT was measured manually over a distance of 1 cm proximal to the bulb in the common carotid artery (CCA). Both sides were measured and the average of the right and left artery were calculated (mean CIMT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CIMT was measured for 1,749 men and 1,802 women without prevalent CHD and 177 men and 50 women with prevalent CHD. Mean CIMT values were higher in men compared to women (men 0.71 ± 0.14 mm vs. women 0.65 ± 0.11 mm, p ≤ 0.0001) and in subjects with CHD compared to those without (men with and without CHD: 0.76 ± 0.14 mm and 0.70 ± 0.14 mm, p ≤ 0.0001, respectively; women with and without CHD: 0.73 ± 0.15 mm and 0.64 ± 0.11 mm, p ≤ 0.0001, respectively). In men the mean CIMT increased from 0.62 ± 0.10 mm in the youngest (45-49 years old) up to 0.79 ± 0.13 mm in the highest age group (≥ 70 years) (0.57 ± 0.08 mm up to 0.71 ± 0.12 mm in women, p ≤ 0.0001 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to international studies similar CIMT distributions were found in this study using both continuous and percentile distributions. However, lower CIMT values were observed in older participants, which can be explained by exclusion of carotid plaque formation in CIMT measurements.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kardiologie, Westdeutsches Herzzentrum Essen, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, Essen, Germany. marcus.bauer@uk-essen.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Möhlenkamp
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moebus
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Roggenbuck
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kälsch
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mahabadi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: K-H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jöckel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erbel
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*