title: Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis Burden in the Japanese: Comparison between Okinawa and Nagano Residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of overweight and a change in atherosclerotic lipid profiles may be linked to region-specific differences in atherosclerotic diseases. We evaluated whether the lipid phenotype could be linked to region- and sex-specific differences in the degree of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-diabetic subjects included Okinawa (n=1674) and Nagano (n=1392) residents aged 30-75 years who underwent carotid ultrasonography for the measurement of maximum intima-media thickness (max IMT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average max IMT was higher in Okinawa men and women, and the increase in max IMT with age was enhanced in men. Multiple regression analysis showed that in addition to age and systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were IMT determinants only in men for both Okinawa and Nagano. Meanwhile, HDL-cholesterol was a determinant for Okinawa men and women, but not for Nagano men and women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report to show region- and sex-specific differences in the determinants for max IMT in a Japanese population. The evaluation of the relationship between lipid profile patterns and region- and sex-specific differences in carotid atherosclerosis burden may be required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Diabetes Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School.
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimabukuro
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Moritake
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Shunsaku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizushima
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masuzaki
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors