Determinants of early carotid atherosclerosis in a male population aged 25–44 years

Aim. To establish factors associated with carotid plaques (CP) in a male population aged 25–44 years. Material and methods . The analysis included data of 309 men 25–44 years old from a representative sample of the general unorganized population aged 25–64 years, formed according to the cluster principle (Kish method) in the framework of the multicenter epidemiological study ESSE-RF. All participants signed a voluntary informed consent to participate in the study and underwent cardiological screening and CP detection using a high-class ultrasound system. The analysis included information on socio-demographic, behavioral, and conventional risk factors (RFs) for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), obtained according to the unified protocol of the ESSSE-RF study. Descriptive statistics, stepwise multivariate logistic regression, and χ2 -discretization were used. Results . The CP prevalence was 7.4 %, varying from 6.3 % at the age of 30–34 years to 17.9 % at the age of 40–44 years, respectively. Significant determinants of early carotid atherosclerosis were age (OR = 1.20; 95 % CI 1.08–1.34; p = 0.001), low density lipoproteins (LDL-C) ≥ 4.7 mmol/L (OR = 9.82; 95 % CI 3.09–31.2, p < 0.001), waist circumference > 94 cm (OR = 0.16; 95 % CI 0.04–0.58, p = 0.005), and living in a private household (OR = 4.75; 95 % CI 1.38–16.3, p = 0.014). An independent association was obtained when using blood total cholesterol (TC) ≥ 7.1 mmol/L instead of LDL-C: OR = 11.2; 95 % CI 2.70–46.3, p = 0.001. Conclusions. Excessive high levels of atherogenic lipoproteins play a key role in genesis of early atherosclerosis in men, therefore screening for TC in this group is a priority. Total cholesterol was sufficient indicator of early atherosclerosis presence, although in this role it was slightly less effective than LDL-C. We revealed inverse association between early atherosclerosis and abdominal obesity and the direct one with living in a private housing. Further study of these factors could contribute to the development of personalized approaches to prevention of early carotid atherosclerosis in population.