Evaluation of Atherosclerosis on Physical Check-up

—Usefulness of Carotid Ultrasonographic Study—

Abstract

A close correspondence between aortic, coronary artery calcium deposits and atherosclerosis has been shown by pathologic studies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between extracranial carotid atherosclerosis and aortic calcification, coronary calcification and ischemic cerebrovascular lesions.
Between April 2000 and March 2001, total 719 participants (men 487, women 232, mean age 58.6±9.9 years) received carotid ultrasonography, chest helical CT scan and brain MRI.
Aortic calcification, coronary calcification and ischemic cerebrovascular lesions were more frequent in the group with carotid atherosclerosis than in the group without carotid atherosclerosis.
A significant relation was seen between carotid atherosclerosis and age, male sex, cigarette smoking, hypertension, glucose intolerance and hyperuricemia.
These results suggested that carotid atherosclerosis is correlated with aortic, coronary artery and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis.