Improvement in the estimation of cardiovascular risk by carotid intima-medial thickness: A report from the Dublin Cardiohealth station study

AbstractBackgroundThe 5th Joint Task Force European guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention recommend the measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in asymptomatic individuals at moderate risk (Class IIa). We aimed to evaluate the ability of CIMT to further risk stratify patients.DesignCross-sectional study.MethodsPatients aged over 18years free of known CVD at moderate, high, or very high risk of CVD were included. The Panasonic Cardiohealth station, a semi-automated ultrasound system, was used to detect carotid plaque and measure CIMT. Elevated CIMT was defined as =/>0.9mm. We analyzed the percentage of those at moderate risk reclassified after addition of CIMT.ResultsTwo hundred patients were included (55% women, mean age 57years, 12% diabetic); 64%, 23% and 13% were classified as moderate, high, and very high risk, respectively. Across these risk categories, 17%, 33%, and 46% had elevated IMT, p for trend