title: Standard deviation of carotid young's modulus and presence or absence of plaque improves prediction of coronary heart disease risk.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The stiffness of large arteries and the presence or absence of plaque are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). Because arterial walls are biologically heterogeneous, the standard deviation of Young's modulus (YM-std) of the large arteries may better predict coronary atherosclerosis. However, the role of YM-std in the occurrence of coronary events has not been addressed so far. Therefore, this study investigated whether the carotid YM-std and the presence or absence of plaque improved CHD risk prediction.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and three patients with CHD (age 66 ± 11 years) and 107 patients at high risk of atherosclerosis (age 61 ± 7 years) were recruited. Carotid YM was measured by the vessel texture matching method, and YM-std was calculated. Carotid intima-media thickness was measured by the MyLab 90 ultrasound Platform employed dedicated software RF-tracking technology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In logistic regression analysis, YM-std (OR = 1·010; 95% CI = 1·003-1·016), carotid plaque (OR = 16·759; 95% CI = 3·719-75·533) and YM-std plus plaque (OR = 0·989; 95% CI = 0·981-0·997) were independent predictors of CHD. The traditional risk factors (TRF) plus YM-std plus plaque model showed a significant improvement in area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC), which increased from 0·717 (TRF only) to 0·777 (95% CI for the difference in adjusted AUC: 0·010-0·110).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carotid YM-std is a powerful independent predictor of CHD. Adding plaque and YM-std to TRF improves CHD risk prediction.
authors.affiliation: Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Department of ultrasound, Third affiliated hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yanling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of ultrasound, Third affiliated hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Rongqin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Paul C. Lauterbur Research Center for Biomedical Imaging, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Hairong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: carotid stiffness; coronary heart disease; plaque; risk prediction; ultrasound