title: Predictors of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plaque Progression in a Chinese Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerotic diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Longitudinal changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque are being increasingly used as markers of atherosclerosis progression and may predict future cardiovascular events. This study aimed to investigate the predictors of carotid IMT and plaque progression in a Chinese population and to determine whether these predictors differ by gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Segment-specific carotid IMT and plaque were measured in 712 stroke- and myocardial infarction-free subjects at baseline and after an average interval of 4.3±0.9 years. Multivariate linear regression and logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the predictive effect of age, gender, and cardiovascular risk factors on carotid IMT and plaque progression. Gender-specific analyses were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, age and smoking were predictors of common carotid artery IMT progression (adjusted p＜0.001 and p=0.045, respectively). Age, hypertension, and use of antihypertensive medication were predictors of bifurcation IMT progression (adjusted p＜0.001, p=0.033, and p＜0.001, respectively). The use of antihypertensive medication was associated with less annual IMT progression in hypertensive subjects than in those who did not take medication, which was most prominent in the bifurcation segment. In addition, most predictors of IMT progression were identified in women in a gender-specific analysis. For plaque progression, age and gender were independent predictors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The predictors of carotid atherosclerosis progression were gender and segment specific. The detection and control of hypertension may prevent atherosclerosis progression, particularly in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital.
authors.forename: Ling-Chun
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ruey-Tay
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chien-Fu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chun-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Suh-Hang Hank
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Juo
authors.forename: Hsiu-Fen
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography