Sex Differences in Patients With Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque
Why the study?
Do men have higher-risk MRI carotid plaque features compared to women among patients with asymptomatic ≥50% carotid stenosis?
Population
131 patients (67 men, 64 women) with ≥50% asymptomatic carotid stenosis on duplex ultrasound
Comparison
Male sex vs Female sex
Design
Cross-sectional, Two blinded reviewers interpreted multicontrast MRI
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
May underlie sex differences in stroke risk with asymptomatic carotid stenosis; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Structured PICO
Do men have higher-risk MRI carotid plaque features compared to women among patients with asymptomatic ≥50% carotid stenosis?
P
Population
131 patients (67 men, 64 women) with ≥50% asymptomatic carotid stenosis on duplex ultrasound
I
Intervention
Male sex
C
Comparator
Female sex
O
Outcome
MRI carotid plaque features including presence of a thin/ruptured fibrous cap, lipid-rich/necrotic core, hemorrhage, calcification, and percent component volumesurrogate
Men with asymptomatic carotid stenosis have higher-risk plaque features on MRI compared to women, which may help explain sex differences in stroke incidence.
Cite This Study
Ota et al. (2010) studied this question.