Common carotid artery diameter as a marker of cardiovascular risk: preliminary results of the improve study

Background: The \u201cIMPROVE study\u201d was designed to investigate whether cross-sectional carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) and overall IMT progression are predictors of vascular events in European individuals at high cardiovascular risk. Aim: To investigate whether C-IMT could be combined with inter-adventitial common carotid artery diameter (ICCAD) to improve the predictability of vascular events. Methods: IMPROVE is a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal, observational study. 3711 subjects (median age 64.4 years; 48% men) with at least 3 vascular risk factors (VRFs) were recruited in 7 centers in Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. Collected variables included clinical, biochemical, genetic, socio-economic, psychological, nutritional, and educational data, personal and family history of diseases, drug intake and physical activity. 3703 patients were monitored for a median (IQR) follow-up of 36.2 (35.8-37.4) months. 215 patients suffered a first vascular event with an incidence of 20/1000 person-years. Results: In Cox proportional-hazards regression, C-IMTs were associated with vascular risk (combined end point) even after adjustment for VRFs (Ptrend