Distension of the Carotid Artery and Risk of Coronary Events

OBJECTIVE: Arterial mechanical properties are of growing interest in the understanding of cardiovascular disease development. We aimed to determine the predictive value of carotid wall mechanics on coronary heart disease (CHD) in the Three-City study. METHODS AND RESULTS: At baseline, 3337 participants aged > or =65 years underwent a carotid B-mode ultrasonography. During a median follow-up of 43.4 months, 128 CHD occurred. Increased carotid distension (relative stroke change in lumen diameter) was significantly associated with CHD risk. Comparison of subjects in tertile 3 versus those in tertile 1 (reference) showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.80 (95% CI, 1.17 to 2.75). Controlling for various confounders including age, heart rate, brachial (or carotid) pulse pressure, and common carotid intima-media thickness did not alter the association between carotid distension and CHD with a HR of 1.79 (95% CI, 1.12 to 2.86; tertile 3 versus tertile 1). Brachial and carotid pulse pressures were also independently associated with CHD. No association was found between CHD and carotid distensibility coefficient, cross-sectional compliance coefficient, Young's elastic modulus, or beta stiffness index. CONCLUSIONS: In the elderly, increased carotid distension was independently predictive of CHD. This simple and noninvasive parameter might be of particular interest for cardiovascular risk assessment.