Predictive value of plasma homocysteine plus carotid plaque to coronary heart disease in the elderly female patients

Objective To investigate the predictive value of plasma homocysteine(Hcy)plus carotid intima-media thickness(IMT)to coronary heart disease(CHD)in the elderly female patients.Methods A total of 100 female patients aged 60 years or older were divided into CHD group(n=67)and non-CHD group(n=33)according to the angiography results.CHD group was redivided into single-vessel lesion group(n=33),double-vessel lesion group(n=26)and multiple-vessel lesion group(n=8).The plasma Hcy level,carotid IMT and Crouse score were compared among groups.The specificity,sensitivity and positive predictive rate of IMT for CHD in the elderly female patients were calculated.Results Hcy level,carotid IMT and Crouse score were significantly higher in CHD group((17.24±7.86)μmol/L,(0.96±0.32)mm,12.59±1.83)than those in non-CHD group((12.92±3.30)μmol/L,(0.75±0.07)mm,4.90±4.50)(P0.05),and were highest in multiple-vessel lesion group,followed by double-vessel and single-vessel lesion group(P0.05).Taking 0.96 mm as the standard of IMT to predict CHD,the specificity,sensitivity and the positive predictive rate were 78.8%(26/33),70.1%(47/67)and 87.0%(47/54).Conclusion Plasma Hcy level and carotid IMT are closely correlated with the severity of CHD in elderly female patients,and the detection of plasma Hcy level and IMT can predict the occurrence of CHD and evaluate its severity.