Relation between age and carotid artery intima‐medial thickness: a systematic review

Abstract

Carotid artery intima-medial thickness (cIMT) represents a popular measure of atherosclerosis and is predictive of future cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Although older age is associated with a higher cIMT, little is known about whether this increase in cIMT follows a linear relationship with age or it is affected under influence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) or CVD risk factors. We hypothesize that the relationship between cIMT and age is nonlinear and is affected by CVD or risk factors. A systematic review of studies that examined cIMT in the general population and human populations free from CVD/risk factors was undertaken. The literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Seventeen studies with 32 unique study populations, involving 10,124 healthy individuals free from CVD risk factors, were included. Furthermore, 58 studies with 115 unique study populations were included, involving 65,774 individuals from the general population (with and without CVD risk factors). A strong positive association was evident between age and cIMT in the healthy population, demonstrating a gradual, linear increase in cIMT that did not differ between age decades (r = 0.91, P < 0.001). Although populations with individuals with CVD demonstrated a higher cIMT compared to populations free of CVD, a linear relation between age and cIMT was also present in this population. Our data suggest that cIMT is strongly and linearly related to age. This linear relationship was not affected by CVD or risk factors.

Analysis of risk factors for carotid intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Western China assessed by logistic regression combined with a decision tree model

“…Age, sex, and smoking are well-known traditional risk factors affecting CIMT [16][17][18][19][20]. Our results were basically consistent with those of previous studies.…”

“…Therefore, it is necessary to identify the relevant risk factors for CIMT to facilitate the early comprehensive prevention and treatment of macroangiopathy. According to previous studies, CIMT can be affected by many factors, including age [16][17][18], sex [16][17][18], smoking [19,20], blood pressure [21], blood lipid levels [22], thyroid function [23,24], blood glucose levels [25], blood glucose level fluctuations, and C-peptide levels [26,27].…”

Glomerülonefritli hastalarda karotis intima media kalınlığının prediktörü hangisidir; nötrofil-lenfosit oranı mı proteinüri mi?

“…Regression analysis revealed age as a predictor for CIMT. Van den Munckhof et al [19] have specified significant positive correlation between age and CIMT in a systematic review of studies in the general population without CVD/risk factors. Although it was mentioned that studies including patients with CVD had higher CIMT compared to patients without CVD, a linear relation between age and CIMT was also present.…”

Carotid Disease and Ageing: A Literature Review on the Pathogenesis of Vascular Senescence in Older Subjects

“…According to ultrasound findings, the carotid β-stiffness index (ultrasound parameter-assessing arterial stiffening) and vessel diameter increase, while arterial strain (ability to adjust with pressure changes with mechanical deformation) reduces with advancing age [22]. Consistently, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a common measure of atherosclerosis and useful tool for the prediction of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, displays a linear increase along with age irrespectively of other factors [23,24]. Furthermore, complicated carotid atheromas with intraplaque hemorrhage are related with older age as confirmed in multiple studies with use of ultrasound, magnetic resonance, and histological assessment of carotid plaques [25,26].…”