Investigation of the Carotid Atherosclerosis in Elderly Patients

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of carotid atherosclerosis in elderly patients.Methods:Subjects consisted of 305 elderly patients aged 65 years or older.Blood pressure,blood chemical parameters,height and body weight,medical history were examined.The mean common carotid artery intima-media thickness,the characteristics of the plaque and extent of luminal stenosis were measured by carotid artery ultrasonography.Results:(1)About 80% elderly patients exhibit carotid plaque and half of them associated with abnormal common carotid IMT.(2)The Plaque lesions were most prevalent in the bifurcation,then the common carotid artery and internal carotid artery(3)The abnormal IMT group were older,with higher systolic blood pressure(SBP)and triglyceride(TC),higher coexistence rate with cerebral vascular events and cardiovascular events.(4)The abnormal IMT group have higher stenosis and plaque prevalence rates and higher carotid plaque score than normal IMT group.Conclusion:The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis was high in elderly patients,the plaque lesions were more prevalent in the bifurcation.The abnormal IMT group were older,with higher coexistence rate with cerebral vascular events and cardiovascular events.Common carotid IMT increase the prevalence rates of stenosis and plaque and carotid plaque scores.