Ultrasound Imaging of Carotid Intima Media Thickness and Related Risk Factors in The Central Black Sea Region:A field study

Abstract

Background/Aims: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of global mortality, often associated with atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a validated, non-invasive ultrasonographic marker for the early diagnosis and monitoring of subclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of atherosclerosis and related pathologies in the residents of Tokat city in the central Black Sea region using CIMT measurement on ultrasound. Methods: The study was conducted as a prospective field study. Carotid ultrasound examinations were performed on 822 participants living in Tokat province between September 2012 and July 2013. Data regarding demographics, lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise), and medical history were collected via questionnaires. Additionally, participants underwent physical examinations and laboratory analyses, including lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose, and HbA1c levels. Results: The average age of the participants was 47.2 years (45.2% male, 54.8% female). Increased CIMT was significantly associated with advanced age and male gender . Statistical analysis revealed that higher CIMT values correlated significantly with high LDL-C, high triglycerides, low HDL-C, smoking and elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) Furthermore, participants with hypertension and diabetes mellitus showed significantly higher CIMT values compared to those without these conditions .No significant relationship was found between CIMT and alcohol consumption or dietary characteristics. Conclusion: Advanced age, male gender, dyslipidemia, smoking, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are major risk factors for increased CIMT in this population. Ultrasonographic measurement of CIMT remains an effective, non-invasive, and easily applicable method for the early detection and monitoring of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic individuals at risk.

Keywords

• Atherosclerosis
• Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
• Ultrasonography

Orta Karadeniz Bölgesinde Karotis İntima Media Kalınlığının ve İlgili Risk Faktörlerinin Ultrason Görüntüleme Yöntemiyle İncelenmesi: Bir Saha Çalışması

Abstract

Amaç: Kardiyovasküler hastalıklar (KVH), dünya çapında en yaygın ölüm nedenlerinden biridir ve damar duvarında kalınlaşmaya neden olan ateroskleroz ile ilişkilidir. Karotis intima-media kalınlığı (KİMK), subklinik aterosklerozun erken teşhisi ve takibi için doğrulanmış, non-invaziv bir ultrasonografik belirteçtir. Bu çalışma, Tokat ilinde yaşayan bireylerde KİMK ölçümü yaparak ateroskleroz sıklığını belirlemeyi ve ilişkili risk faktörlerini tanımlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu prospektif alan çalışmasına, aile hekimi takibinde olan ve gönüllü olan 20 yaş ve üzeri, rastgele seçilmiş 822 katılımcı dahil edilmiştir. Karotis ultrason muayeneleri, 5 MHz lineer prob kullanılarak yapılmış ve KİMK ölçümleri ana karotis arterin arka duvarından alınmıştır. Katılımcıların demografik bilgileri, yaşam tarzı alışkanlıkları (sigara, alkol, diyet, egzersiz) ve tıbbi geçmişlerine dair veriler anketler yoluyla toplanmıştır. Ayrıca katılımcılara fiziksel muayene yapılmış ve lipid profili, açlık kan şekeri ile HbA1c seviyelerini içeren laboratuvar analizleri için kan örnekleri alınmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 47,2’dir (%45,2 erkek, %54,8 kadın). Artmış KİMK değerleri, ilerleyen yaş ve erkek cinsiyet ile anlamlı derecede ilişkili bulunmuştur . İstatistiksel analizler, yüksek KİMK değerlerinin yüksek LDL-K, yüksek trigliserit, düşük HDL-K, sigara kullanımı ve artmış Vücut Kitle İndeksi (VKİ) ile anlamlı korelasyon gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca, hipertansiyon ve diyabet tanısı olan katılımcıların KİMK değerleri, bu hastalıkları olmayanlara göre anlamlı derecede yüksek çıkmıştır . Alkol tüketimi veya diyet özellikleri ile KİMK arasında anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmamıştır. Sonuç: İleri yaş, erkek cinsiyet, dislipidemi, sigara kullanımı, obezite, hipertansiyon ve diyabet, bu popülasyonda artmış KİMK için temel risk faktörleridir. KİMK’nin ultrasonografik ölçümü, risk altındaki asemptomatik bireylerde subklinik aterosklerozun erken teşhisi ve takibi için etkili, non-invaziv ve kolay uygulanabilir bir yöntem olmaya devam etmektedir.

Keywords

• Ateroskleroz
• Karotis İntima-Medya Kalınlığı
• Ultrasonografi

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