Risk Factors of Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Disease in Geriatric Evaluated Using Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) Measurement, the First Indonesian Population Study

Abstract

Introduction Carotid artery disease in geriatric is one of the important etiologies of stroke, which topped the cause of mortality in Indonesia. Specific prevention should be done as early as asymptomatic disease occurred. Initial assessment can be performed using ultrasound by measuring the intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid artery, which can evaluate earlier progression of the atherosclerosis process. Unfortunately, we do not have risk factors categorization that show us which geriatric population fall under high-risk stratification to be screened. Method Study was done to Indonesian geriatric population. Asymptomatic carotid disease was tested positive if IMT was > 0.9 mm without any previous neurological symptoms. Correlation of the result was statistically tested with risk factors of atherosclerotic process, such as sex, body mass index, presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia Results Study obtained 104 subjects and showed the prevalence of asymptomatic carotid disease was 37.5%. Two risk factors: diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia were statistically significant (p = 0.01) with odds ratio (OR) 3.56 (1.31–9.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]) and OR 2.85 (1.25–6.51, CI 95%), respectively. Logistic regression showed the risk was 69.2% by having two of these comorbidities, 47.2 or 42.5% if diabetes mellitus or hypercholesterolemia was present. Conclusion As diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia were proved to be significant risk factors for asymptomatic carotid artery disease, we recommend performing ultrasound screening to measure carotid artery IMT for geriatric population who had diabetes mellitus and/or hypercholesterolemia for asymptomatic carotid artery disease to be diagnosed and further treated.