Combining echocardiography with carotid ultrasound parameters in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events among older individuals with coronary artery disease

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of combining echocardiography with carotid ultrasound for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among older individuals with coronary artery disease. Methods: A total of 138 elderly individuals diagnosed with coronary artery disease and admitted to our facility from June 2020 to June 2021 were included in this study. These patients were categorized into two groups: a non-MACE group consisting of 84 patients and a MACE group with 54 patients, based on whether they experienced MACE within three years following their discharge. Additionally, a validation cohort of 141 patients was assembled, which was also divided into a non-MACE group with 90 patients and a MACE group with 51 patients. Upon admission, all participants underwent both transthoracic echocardiography and carotid ultrasound assessments. We then conducted a comparative analysis of the ultrasound parameters between the two groups. LVEDD, IMT, and Crouse score were risk factors for MACE, while LVEF and A value were protective factors against MACE. Derivation area under the curve (AUC) = 0.755; validation AUC = 0.754. Conclusion: Echocardiography and carotid ultrasound parameters can be used to predict the occurrence of MACE within 3 years in elderly patients with coronary artery disease, and combined detection can effectively improve the accuracy of prediction.