2008 Volume 20 Issue 2-3 Pages 101-104
We have investigated the relationship between body mass index (BMI)and carotid atherosclerosis in 134 patients (84 men and 50 women) after cerebral infarction or hemorrhage. or ischemic heart disease (IHD). Associated risk factors (high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia)were also evaluated. Carotid stenosis was measured by B-mode ultrasound imaging, and the degree of stenosis was expressed accoring to the criteria of the European Carotid Surgery Trial (ECST).We classified the participants into two groups, A (ECST<30%)and B(ECST<30%), and the results were as follows. 1)Approximately 68% of the subjects suffered brain infarction. 2)The mean BMI in groups A and B was 21.6 and 22.4, indicating that patients with more severe stenosis (group A)had a lower BMI, or were less obese. than patients in group B. 3)Patients with cerebral infarction had a higher BMI and more severe carotid stenosis. while the IHD group had a roughly equal BMI and less severe carotid stenosis. Thus, the present cross-sectional study of stroke or heart attack patients revealed no positive correlation between obesity and carotid atherosclerosis.
