title: Obesity is a risk factor for significant carotid atherosclerosis in patients aged 39 to 55 years.
abstract: We compared the prevalence of risk factors between young and old individuals with significant carotid atherosclerosis. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients aged 39 to 55 years (group I) and aged ≥ 60 years (group II) with significant atherosclerotic stenosis at the carotid bifurcation. Group I patients had significantly higher values for the following factors: weight, height, body mass index, diastolic pressure, prevalence of current smoking, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and significant lower values for systolic pressure, creatinine, and prevalence of coronary artery disease. Group I patients were more symptomatic and showed higher rates of carotid occlusion and near occlusion. Atherosclerosis of the carotid bifurcation was more aggressive in the younger group, with a higher rate of occlusion and near occlusion. Obesity and smoking were significant risk factors for young patients in this sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Vascular and Endovascular Division, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil ersimao@usp.br.
authors.forename: Erasmo Simão da
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro Nogueira
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Giglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Reis
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Waisberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Richard Geraldo Jaqueta
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Vascular and Endovascular Division, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivan Benaduce
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Vascular and Endovascular Division, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puech-Leão
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: atherosclerosis; carotid disease; risk factors