A Study to derive distribution of carotid intima media thickness and to determine its COrrelation with cardiovascular Risk factors in asymptomatic nationwidE Indian population (SCORE-India)

• Published in: Indian heart journal Vol. 68; no. 6; pp. 821 - 827
• Main Authors: Kasliwal, Ravi R, Bansal, Manish, Desai, Nagaraj, Kotak, Bhavesh, Raza, Ammar, Vasnawala, Hardik, Kumar, Amit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Elsevier B.V 01.11.2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Asymptomatic Diseases; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Carotid Artery, Common - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Incidence; India - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Population Surveillance - methods; Primary prevention; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors; Risk stratification; Secondary prevention; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Subclinical atherosclerosis; Survival Rate - trends; Secondary prevention; Subclinical atherosclerosis; Primary prevention; Risk stratification
• ISSN: 0019-4832
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ihj.2016.04.009

Abstract Background There is presently no data to describe normal distribution of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), an established measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, in Indian subjects. Methods In this multi-centric study, 1229 subjects with age ≥30 years and no previous cardiovascular disease (CVD) underwent CVD risk factor assessment and CIMT measurement. Mean far wall common carotid artery IMT was measured on both sides and averaged. Results Mean age of the subjects was 48.0 ± 12.0 years and 54.2% were men. CIMT measurement was feasible in 1157 subjects. Mean, median and 75th percentile values of CIMT for different age-groups were derived for men and women separately. There was a progressive increase in CIMT with increasing age ( P < 0.001) and men had higher CIMT values than women (0.608 ± 0.12 mm vs. 0.579 ± 0.11 mm, P < 0.001). The CIMT values were also higher in diabetics (0.635 ± 0.10 mm) and hypertensives (0.624 ± 0.10 mm) as compared to non-diabetics (0.589 ± 0.12 mm, P < 0.001) and non-hypertensives (0.592 ± 0.12, P 0.02) respectively. Among continuous variables, age, systolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose had strong to modest correlation with CIMT (Pearson's r 0.524, 0.282 and 0.192 respectively, all P values <0.001), whereas body mass index, diastolic blood pressure and serum triglycerides exhibited weak but still statistically significant relationship (Pearson's r 0.069, P 0.019; Pearson's r 0.065, P 0.026; and Pearson's r 0.094, P 0.001, respectively). Conclusions This is the first study to provide age- and gender-specific distribution of CIMT in Indian subjects free from CVD. This information should help facilitate further research and clinical work involving CIMT in India.