Intima-media thickness predicts stroke risk in the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study in association with vascular risk factors, age and gender

• Published in: Atherosclerosis 2012-09, Vol.224 (1), p.84-89
• Main Authors: Hermann, Dirk M, Gronewold, Janine, Lehmann, Nils, Seidel, Ulla Karen, Möhlenkamp, Stefan, Weimar, Christian, Kälsch, Hagen, Moebus, Susanne, Jöckel, Karl-Heinz, Erbel, Raimund, Bauer, Marcus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Carotid Artery, Common - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Cohort Studies; Coronary heart disease; Duplex sonography; Female; Germany - epidemiology; Heart; Humans; Incidence; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Risk; Risk Factors; Risk stratification; Stroke - epidemiology; Stroke - etiology; Stroke prediction; Subclinical atherosclerosis
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.06.019

Abstract Background and purpose Individual risk stratification requires reliable information on preexisting vascular disease. The intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CIMT) is a non-invasively accessible marker of atherosclerosis, which can be used for risk evaluation. Methods In a sample of 3669 initially stroke-free subjects aged 45–75 years belonging to the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall cohort, the predictive value of CIMT for incident stroke was evaluated over 85.3 ± 17.4 months in addition to established risk factors. Results In a multivariable Cox regression analysis with traditional cardiovascular risk factors including age, gender, systolic blood pressure, LDL and HDL, diabetes, body mass index, smoking and CIMT, CIMT was a moderate stroke predictor (hazard ratio = 1.20 per 0.1 mm, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.44; p  = 0.043), additional to e.g. age (1.46 per 5 years, 1.21–1.75; p