Relationship between Carotid Atherosclerosis and Coronary Atherosclerosis in Elderly Patients

Aim To evaluate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) and coronary atherosclerosis. Methods Carotid ultrasound was performed in 94 patients who had been examined by coronary angiography. Carotid plaque score was calculated to quantify the extent of CAS using Sutton' methods. Results The results showed that the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque index were significantly increases in all of the diseased groups versus controls (P0.05). Multivariate analysis of all the subjects revealed the age, cigarette smoking, blood pressure, length and severity of hypertension, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), ratio of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and HDLC were independently associated with CAS. As coronary atherosclerosis progressed, the extent of CAS became more severe. Significant differences of carotid plaque score were found among different coronary artery disease groups (P0.01). Conclusion The results suggest that coronary atherosclerosis and CAS could be parelled.