Sex Differences in Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Carotid Plaque among Adults: A Population-based Cross-Sectional Study in Rural China

Abstract

Although the associations between carotid plaque and cardiovascular disease risk factors have been identified in previous studies, there is limited information on sex-related differences in factors associated with the development of carotid plaque. We aimed to determine sex differences in the prevalence of carotid plaque and associated risk factors in rural China. A total of 3,789 subjects aged ≥45 years without history of stroke or cardiovascular disease were recruited to the study. B-mode ultrasonography was performed to determine the presence of carotid plaque. The mean age of male subjects was greater than that of female subjects. In addition, there was a higher prevalence of carotid plaque in men than in women (50.1% vs. 35.5%; P < 0.001) irrespective of age group, education level, and presence of risk factors. Older age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and high concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were pronouncedly associated with the risk of carotid plaque in both men and women. These findings suggest that it is vital for physicians to be aware that conventional risk factors and other related factors are of equal importance among rural residents in China; patients should thus be treated accordingly so that reduce the burden of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Prevalence of Carotid Plaque in a 63‐ to 65‐Year‐Old Norwegian Cohort From the General Population: The ACE (Akershus Cardiac Examination) 1950 Study

“…Carotid plaque was more prevalent in men than in women, corresponding with other studies 17, 32. It is well documented that women in the reproductive age group are protected from developing coronary heart disease compared with men of similar age 33.…”

“…Carotid plaque was more prevalent in men than in women, corresponding with other studies. 17,32 It is well documented that women in the reproductive age group are protected from developing coronary heart disease compared with men of similar age. 33 The effect is independent of cardiovascular risk factors and may be due to differences in vascular biology, including endothelial function, the production of nitric oxide, 34 and protective properties of estrogen.…”

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Cognitive Impairment Among Elderly Without Cardio- and Cerebrovascular Diseases: A Population-Based Study in Rural China

“…This was a population-based, cross-sectional study conducted from April 2014 to January 2015. The participants were from the Tianjin Brain Study, which has been described previously (Zhao et al, 2016 ; Ning et al, 2017 ). In brief, the total population included 14,251 individuals from 18 administrative villages.…”

Sex Differences in the Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Nonvascular Cognitive Function in Rural, Low-Income Elderly in Tianjin, China

“…The total population included 14,251 individuals from 18 administrative villages in Tianjin China. Approximately 95% of the population were low-income farmers, with a per capita disposable income of < 1,600 USD in 2014 [25]. The illiteracy rate in this population was 30% for men and 40% for women for residents aged 35 to 74 years in 1991 [22], and the average length of formal education was 4.75 years in 1991 and 5.26 years in 2011 [23].…”

“…The study population was recruited from the Tianjin Brain Study, which has been described previously [21,25]. It was a population-based, cross-sectional study conducted from April 2014 to January 2015; the questionnaire survey was performed through April 2014 to August 2014.…”