Elevated serum LDL cholesterol was associated with a 3.40-fold increased probability of carotid intimal-medial thickening compared to the lowest tertile (95% CI 1.98-5.84).
Cross-Sectional (n=720)
Are elevated serum LDL cholesterol, smoking, and hypertension associated with different manifestations of carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged men?
Elevated LDL cholesterol is primarily associated with carotid intimal-medial thickening, whereas heavy smoking is more strongly associated with the presence of carotid plaques.
Odds Ratio: 3.4 (95% CI 1.98–5.84)
We investigated the association of elevated serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, smoking and hypertension with different manifestations of carotid atherosclerosis in a population-based sample of 720 Eastern Finnish men aged 42, 48, 54 or 60 years, examined in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed with high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Men who had neither a history nor symptoms of cardiovascular disease with serum LDL cholesterol concentration in the highest tertile (4.17 mM or more) had 3.40-fold (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.98-5.84) age-, smoking- and hypertension-adjusted probability of intimal-medial thickening as compared to men in the lowest serum LDL cholesterol tertile. The odds ratio for carotid plaque versus intimal-medial thickening was only 1.03 (95% CI 0.47-2.28). The respective odds ratios for smoking (28 pack-years or more) were 1.62 (95% CI 0.79-3.32) and 3.02 (95% CI 1.41-6.47) and those for hypertension were 1.10 (95% CI 0.70-1.73) and 0.99 (95% CI 0.53-1.84). Our findings suggest that elevated serum LDL cholesterol concentration associates with an increased risk of common carotid arterial wall thickening, whereas smoking is associated more strongly with carotid plaques than intimal-medial thickening. Our cross-sectional data do not support association between hypertension and either manifestation of carotid atherosclerosis.
Salonen et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in carotid atherosclerosis (n=720). Elevated serum LDL cholesterol vs. Lowest serum LDL cholesterol tertile was evaluated on probability of intimal-medial thickening (OR 3.40, 95% CI 1.98-5.84). Elevated serum LDL cholesterol was associated with a 3.40-fold increased probability of carotid intimal-medial thickening compared to the lowest tertile (95% CI 1.98-5.84).