Common carotid arterial interadventitial distance (diameter) as an indicator of the damaging effects of age and atherosclerosis, a cross-sectional study of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Community Cohort Limited Access Data (ARICLAD), 1987–89

Middle-aged black and white men and women from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Limited Access Data (ARICLAD) cohort (1987-89), categorized into three groups: pre-existing disease (prevalent stroke and/or coronary heart disease), high risk group (no pre-existing disease, but prevalent diabetes, hypertension, plaques/shadowing, BMI >= 30, current smoking, or hyperlipidemia), and low risk group (no pre-existing disease, no plaques/shadowing, and no major elevated risk factors).

Age (exposure)

Comparison across three atherosclerosis risk levels (pre-existing disease, high risk, low risk)

Common carotid artery diameter measured by B-mode ultrasoundsurrogate