Evaluation of Carotid Artery Intima-media Thickness and its Correlation With Metabolic and Nutritional Factors

Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is vital to investigate vascular atherosclerosis. Studies have provided conflicting information regarding the factors affecting this thickness. This study aims to determine CIMT in adults and investigate its relationship with background variables, and metabolic and nutritional factors.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on the adult population of Mashhad City, Iran, and in the cohort center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences during 2018-2019. At the beginning of the study, a complete history was taken and general examinations were performed. For all subjects, a B-mode ultrasound was performed by a radiologist in the neck region to evaluate the carotid arteries. Also, anthropometric characteristics, including height, weight, and body mass index, and metabolic factors, including blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol level, triglyceride level, and nutritional factors, including daily calorie consumption were calculated.

A total of 431 people with an mean age of 43.41±6.59 years were included in the study, 190 cases (44.1%) were men and 241 cases (55.9%) were women. The median thickness of the left carotid artery (0.63, 0.50) was 0.55 mm, and the median thickness of the right carotid artery (0.49, 0.61) was 0.54 mm (P=0.003). Also, the mean intima-media thickness (IMT) of the right and left carotid arteries was significantly higher in males than in females (P<0.05). Correlation of different quantitative data with IMT of both carotid arteries showed that all quantitative data except pulse rate (P<0.05) and energy (P<0.05) had a significant positive correlation with IMT of both right and left carotid arteries which were weak to moderate. Age and weight had a direct and significant relationship with the right and left CIMT (P<0.05). In addition, the male gender was associated with greater thickness of the left carotid artery (P<0.05).

The results of our study indicated that what is almost certainly related to CIMT is age and weight, which increases with the increase of both CIMT. More studies are needed to confirm these things