Use of intima media thickness in the assessment of the development of preclinical atherosclerosis

Abstract Background/Introduction In the carotid arteries, an IMT >0.9 mm measured by Duplex sonography is considered abnormal and can be considered an independent predictor of preclinical atherosclerosis. IMT >1.5 mm can already be called an atherosclerotic plaque. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the age characteristics of the intima media thickness in the carotid arteries Methods The analysis was performed on the basis of retrospective observations of 483 patients who underwent ultrasound dopplerography during 2010–2017. The mean age of the studied patients was 53.28±14.06 (min 9, max 86 years), the standard mean error was ± 0.64. Among those examined, 165 (34.16%) were men and 318 (65.84%) were women. Measurements for IMT were performed on both the right and left: common, external, and internal carotid arteries. IMT is defined in the following ranges: <0.9 mm – normal thickness; 0.9–1.0 mm – intermediate thickness; >1.0 mm – increased thickness; ≥1.5 mm – atherosclerotic plaque. Results The comparison was made in 3 age groups: <40; 40–65; >65 years. 3 IMT values were taken: <0.9; 0.9–1.0; >1.0 mm. Indicators are calculated in both absolute numbers and percentages. The accuracy of the obtained results was checked by chi square statistics (p<0.05). There were 477 patients in the age group we studied. We lost 6 pts in this study. It was 90 pts at the age <40 years, 293 pts at the age 40–65 years, 94 pts at the age >65 years. It was 249 pts with IMT <0.9 mm, 107 pts with IMT 0.9 - 1.0 mm, 121 pts with IMT >1.0 mm. According to our results, it was IMT <0.9 mm in 87.78% (79 pts) cases at the age <40 years, 52.22% (153 pts) at the age 40–65 years, 18.09% (17 pts) at the age >65 years. IMT was found between 0.9 and 1.0 mm in 5.56% (5 pts) cases at the age <40 years, 47.71% (73 pts) at the age 40–65 years, 30.85% (29 pts) at the age >65 years. It was IMT >1.0 mm in 6.67% (6 pts) cases at the age <40 years, 22.87% (67 pts) at the age 40–65 years, 51.06% (48 pts) at the age >65 years. Conclusion(s) The prevalence of the IMT >1.0 mm more at the age >65 years (51.06%), IMT 0.9–1.0 mm more at the age 40–65 years (47.71%), IMT <0.9 mm more at the age <40 years (87.78%). Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.