title: Increased maximum common carotid intima-media thickness is associated with smoking and hypertension in Tochigi Prefecture residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated maximum intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (IMT-Cmax) in residents of Tochigi Prefecture, who have been reported to have high stroke mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study included 840 individuals. All participants underwent carotid ultrasonography and answered a questionnaire during participation in a health festival in Tochigi Prefecture. The questionnaire was designed to collect information on age, gender, and risk factors for stroke. IMT-Cmaxwas measured. Statistical analyses were performed to identify factors contributing to IMT-Cmaxvalues ≥1.1 mm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 117 subjects had an IMT-Cmaxvalue ≥1.1 mm. IMT-Cmaxcorrelated significantly with age, current smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and previous symptomatic stroke (p < 0.05) in univariate analysis. Current smoking (p < 0.001, odds ratio 3.88) and hypertension (p = 0.0070, odds ratio 1.83) were seen as significant contributing factors to IMT-Cmax≥1.1 mm in logistic regression analysis adjusted by age, gender, and previous symptomatic stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified current smoking and hypertension as the most significant contributing factors to increased IMT-Cmaxin residents of Tochigi Prefecture, emphasizing the importance of routine blood pressure monitoring and anti-smoking education in this population.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Division, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, 322-0293, Japan. a.iwasaki.n@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0269-1461
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.affiliation: Stroke Division, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, 322-0293, Japan.|Center of Medical Ultrasonics, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidehiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takekawa
authors.affiliation: Stroke Division, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, 322-0293, Japan.|Department of Internal Medicine, Akiru Municipal Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.affiliation: Stroke Division, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, 322-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Stroke Division, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, 322-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Madoka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.affiliation: Stroke Division, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, 322-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishihira
authors.affiliation: Stroke Division, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, 322-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Stroke Division, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, 322-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsukahara
authors.affiliation: Stroke Division, Department of Neurology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, 322-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hypertension; Maximal intima-media thickness; Smoking; Tochigi Prefecture