High Prevalence of Ultrasound Detected Carotid Atherosclerosis in Subjects with Low Framingham Risk Score: Potential Implications for Screening for Subclinical Atherosclerosis

Relationship between vascular age and classic cardiovascular risk factors and arterial stiffness

“…Integrating VA in the risk algorithms could be an attractive concept for subjects whose risk was estimated as low or intermediate according to the traditional risk scores. In our study the FRS categories did not differentiate between individuals with increased VA and others -the fi nding consistent with the previous studies [19,20]. Our results confi rmed the thesis that VA represents the atherosclerotic burden which varies between individuals with the same CA despite similar CV risk profi les [18].…”

“…Linear correlation between arterial stiffness parameters and chronological and vascular age in men and women. Various reports have provided evidence that atherosclerosis in form of increased CIMT, plaques and coronary artery calcium score > 0 can be found in asymptomatic subjects classifi ed as at low -or intermediate CV risk [19,20]. Framingham CV risk estimates are infl uenced strongly by the CA.…”

Cardiovascular risk stratification in rheumatic diseases: carotid ultrasound is more sensitive than Coronary Artery Calcification Score to detect subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

“…In keeping with our observations, in a series of 118 young to middle-aged, low-risk population who reported 1 or more CV risk factors and were seeking primary prevention but who did not have symptoms of CV disease, a high frequency of severe carotid ultrasonography findings in individuals with CACS 0 was observed 32. Similarly, in another series of 136 asymptomatic individuals without CV disease, severe carotid ultrasonography findings defined by cIMT≥75 percentile and/or plaques were more likely to revise Framingham risk score than CACS 33. In this series, 52% of the subjects with CACS 0 had plaques 33.…”

Extensive or Restricted Ultrasound Protocols to Measure Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: Analysis of Completeness Rates and Impact on Observed Rates of Change Over Time

“…A recent study demonstrated the feasibility of the use of an extensive ultrasound protocol in a screening program for subclinical atherosclerosis. 35 However, data that directly compare the risk stratification abilities of a far wall common CIMT measurement versus one that uses information from multiple carotid segments are not yet available. These data are important given the growing interest in the use of measures of subclinical atherosclerosis to improve risk stratification for cardiovascular disease events.…”