Atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis) is a chronic degenerative inflammatory disease of the arteries. Progressive atherosclerotic process leads to the formation of plaque inside the vessel, which results in the narrowing of the vessel lumen, limited blood flow and ischemia. Currently, the disease is increasingly linked with the lifestyle in highly-developed countries(1). Risk factors for atherosclerotic lesions may include lipid disorders (hyperlipidemia, e.g. hypercholesterolemia), hypertension and diabetes.
Hyperlipidemia is the major modifiable factor responsible for atherosclerosis and its cardiovascular complications. Lipid profile shows elevated total cholesterol levels, which are accompanied by an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol), and a decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) (the “good” cholesterol). Studies assessing angiographic changes in cardiovascular patients have shown that LDL cholesterol plays a crucial and negative role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis(2). There is also a close reverse relationship between HDL cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular events – the lower the HDL cholesterol, the higher the cardiovascular risk(3).
Hypertension is defined as an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure above normal values. Systolic blood pressure is as strong a coronary risk factor as diastolic blood pressure. Similarly, isolated systolic blood pressure is currently considered as a primary risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke(2).
Diabetes is a common chronic disease affecting the human population. Serious metabolic disorders of carbohydrates, fats and proteins develop in the course of diabetes due to dysfunction of insulin, a pancreatic hormone responsible for lowering blood glucose levels. The consequences of long-term persistence of high blood glucose levels include severe disorders in the form of diabetic micro- and macroangiopathies. Diabetic microangiopathies are pathologies in small blood vessels, whereas macroangiopathies are adverse changes in large vessels (arteries and veins), which can lead to accelerated development of arteriosclerosis(4–6).
Over the last dozen or so years, there has been tremendous progress in diagnostics and, consequently, effective treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Doppler ultrasonography (US) is becoming an increasingly used noninvasive vascular imaging technique as well as one of the most useful and effective methods for detecting and monitoring of the first pathological structural changes in arteries before the onset of symptoms. An assessment of the thickness of the middle and inner layers of the arteries, especially the jugular veins, and the assessment of intima-media complex (IMC) thickness are the essence of Doppler US. Most often, accessible segments of the common carotid artery (CCA) are assessed. It is believed that the thickness of the IMC is an important indicator of the risk of cardiovascular events, as the thickening of the carotid intima may suggest an early stage of atherosclerosis in the absence of specific disease symptoms(7–9).
The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the relationships between IMC thickness in right and left CCA and the presence of atheromatous plaque in Lublin’s population in the context of three potential comorbidities (hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes).
A total of 121 randomly selected subjects (males
The mean age of patients was under 53 years. The mean age was 54 years for women, and 51 years for men. The youngest patients were 18 years old. The oldest woman was 76 years old, while the oldest man was 82 years old. Half of the women surveyed were up to 56 years old and half of the men were up to 53 years old (Tab. 1). All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire included, among other things, questions concerning comorbidities (hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes).
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|
Me ( |
Min. | Max. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
67 | 54.03 ± 14.40 | 56 (45 − 65) | 18 | 76 |
|
54 | 51.06 ± 16.18 | 53 (39 − 64) | 18 | 82 |
|
21 | 52.70 ± 15.23 | 54 (42 − 65) | 18 | 82 |
Sonographic scanning of carotid arteries was performed in the Department of Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology of the Medical University of Lublin with the Logiq 7 scanner, using a linear, HD, 6–12 MHz transducer. Each ultrasound examination was performed by the same experienced person.
CCA IMC thickness was assessed 1 to 2 cm below the bifurcation for both: left (LT) and right (RT) carotid arteries. All IMC measurements were performed on the posterior wall under optimal imaging conditions, i.e. with zoom options and the focus placed at the depth of exactly posterior wall.
The StatSoft, Inc. (2014). STATISTICA (data analysis software system), version 12 (
The normality of the distribution for a quantitative variable was tested with the Shapiro-Wilk W test. Since the normality of the distribution was rejected, the comparisons of the results between two groups were performed with the Mann-Whitney U test. The Pearson’s Chi2 test was used to determine the independence of two nominal variables.
In the case of hypercholesterolemia (Fig. 1), hypertension (Fig. 2), and diabetes (Fig. 3), the difference in IMC thickness (RT/LT CCA) was statistically significant (patients without diagnosis vs. patients with a diagnosed disease). In all cases, the IMC thickness was higher in patients diagnosed with the discussed diseases (in each case
A disease | No disease | Statistical analysis | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Me ( |
Me ( |
||||
RT CCA | 0.87 ± 0.13 | 0.9 (0.8 − 1.0) | 0.66 ± 0.16 | 0.6 (0.5 − 0.8) | |
LT CCA | 0.89 ± 0.13 | 0.9 (0.8 − 1.0) | 0.65 ± 0.17 | 0.6 (0.5 − 0.8) | |
RT CCA | 0.86 ± 0.13 | 0.8 (0.8 − 1.0) | 0.61 ± 0.14 | 0.6 (0.5 − 0.7) | |
LT CCA | 0.86 ± 0.14 | 0.9 (0.8 − 1.0) | 0.62 ± 0.17 | 0.6 (0.5 − 0.7) | |
RT CCA | 0.95 ± 0.08 | 1.0 (0.9 − 1.0) | 0.74 ± 0.17 | 0.8 (0.6 − 0.9) | |
LT CCA | 0.98 ± 0.08 | 1.0 (0.9 − 1.0) | 0.74 ± 0.18 | 0.8 (0.6 − 0.9) |
Atheromatous plaque formation and diagnosed disease entities in the study population
Based on medical history, the possibility of a relationship between the diseases and the presence of carotid artery plaque was assessed in all subjects in the study group. Highly significant correlations were found between the atherosclerotic plaque and hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and diabetes (in each case
Statistical analyses showed a highly significant relationship between the atherosclerotic plaque in ultrasonography and abnormal cholesterol levels. No atherosclerotic plaque was detected in almost 90% of patients (
Likewise, the analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between atherosclerotic plaque and hypertension. No carotid artery atherosclerosis was diagnosed in patients without hypertension – up to 91.11% (
A highly statistically significant correlation with plaque formation was also found among diabetic patients. While 86.67% (
No atheromatous plaque |
Present atheromatous plaque |
Statistical analysis | |
---|---|---|---|
|
|||
No |
χ2= 24.43 |
||
Yes |
|||
|
|||
No |
χ2= 17.87 |
||
Yes |
|||
|
|||
No |
χ2= 20.47 |
||
Yes |
We also investigated the relationship between the thickness of IMC in RT/LT CCA, and the presence of atherosclerotic plaque and dyslipidemia in the study population.
In the group of patients with lipid metabolism impairment in the form of elevated total cholesterol, the IMC thickness of RT/LT CCA was statistically significantly higher compared to those with normal total cholesterol levels. Additionally, a relationship between plaque and cholesterol dysfunction was demonstrated. In the group of patients who did not declare cholesterol disorders, almost 90% were not diagnosed with atherosclerotic plaque.
The available literature data also indicates that there is a close relationship not only between serum levels of total cholesterol, but also between individual lipid fractions and IMC thickness(10–14). Kunicka
The present study also investigated the relationship between the thickness of RT/LT CCA, IMC and the presence of atherosclerotic plaque and diabetes in the study population. In diabetic patients, the values of CCA IMC thickness were statistically significantly higher in both arteries compared to non-diabetic patients.
There was also a statistically significant relationship between atherosclerotic plaque and diabetes. In the diabetic group, over 86.67% of patients (
The relationship between carbohydrate disorders and IMC thickness has already been described by many authors(12,16–19). Most of available data concerns patients with already diagnosed diabetes, but less is mentioned about the relationship between IMC thickness and impaired glucose tolerance. Taniwaki
There is little data available that would describe the possible correlation between IMC thickness and glycemia. Kunicka
The present study further investigated the correlation between the thickness of IMC in RT/LT CCA and the diagnosis of atherothrombotic plaque and hypertension in patients. In hypertensive patients, the IMC thickness in RT/LT CCA was significantly higher compared to those with normal blood pressure.
Also, a statistically significant correlation was found between the presence of atherosclerotic plaque and hypertension. No carotid artery plaque was found in almost all individuals in the group without diagnosed hypertension.
The relationship between IMC thickness and the prevalence of hypertension has been confirmed previously(20–22). Both higher systolic blood pressure and the duration of hypertension closely correlate with higher IMC thickness. In the group of hypertensive patients, age and systolic blood pressure were the strongest determinants of IMC thickness(23,24). In the above context, the findings presented by Gariepa
Considering the above cited literature data as well as the results obtained in this work, the IMC thickness assessment plays an important role in hypertensive individuals. Recommendations of the Polish Society of Hypertension emphasize, among other things, the need to perform this type of assessment when evaluating the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension. The European Societies of Hypertension and Cardiology recommend measuring the IMC thickness in hypertensive patients, with IMC thickness of > 0.9 mm as an indication of organ damage(26).
The present study investigated the relationship between RT/LT CCA IMC thickness and the diagnosis of atherosclerotic plaque and the coexistence of certain diseases in patients from Lublin’s population. We found: statistically significant differences in RT/LT CCA IMC thickness for lipid metabolism disorders (increased total cholesterol levels), carbohydrate metabolism disorders (diabetes), hypertension; a statistically significant relationship between atheromatous plaque formation and the discussed diseases.
This work confirms the importance of measuring the IMC thickness.