Predictors for High-Risk Carotid Plaque in Asymptomatic Korean Population

Aims. High-risk carotid plaque remains an important risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We sought to evaluate the characteristics of carotid plaque and to find out the predictors for high-risk carotid plaque in asymptomatic Koreans. Methods. Subjects (n=801) without a his...

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Main Authors: Chae Won Jang, Yong Kyun Kim, Ki-Hong Kim, Achangwa Chiara, Moo-Sik Lee, Jang-Ho Bae
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Cardiovascular Therapeutics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6617506
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author Chae Won Jang
Yong Kyun Kim
Ki-Hong Kim
Achangwa Chiara
Moo-Sik Lee
Jang-Ho Bae
author_facet Chae Won Jang
Yong Kyun Kim
Ki-Hong Kim
Achangwa Chiara
Moo-Sik Lee
Jang-Ho Bae
author_sort Chae Won Jang
collection DOAJ
description Aims. High-risk carotid plaque remains an important risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We sought to evaluate the characteristics of carotid plaque and to find out the predictors for high-risk carotid plaque in asymptomatic Koreans. Methods. Subjects (n=801) without a history of ASCVD from 12 university hospitals in Korea underwent carotid ultrasound. The images were standardized at core laboratory. Morphologic characteristics of plaque were analyzed with laboratory and clinical characteristics. High-risk carotid plaque features included the highest quartile of carotid plaque score (cPS), irregular plaque surface, and hypoechoic and ulcerated plaque. Results. The carotid plaque prevalence was 22.1% (177/801 persons, 293 plaques). The plaque was increased with age (p<0.001) and conventional ASCVD risk estimator (p<0.001) and the most frequently found in bulb (n=190, 64.8%). The number of the highest quartile of cPS was 44/177 (24.9%). Irregular plaque was seen in 20.8% out of total plaque (61/293) and was more frequent in the high-risk 10-year ASCVD risk group than in the low-risk group (36.1% vs. 15.8%, p=0.023). Hypoechoic and ulcerated plaques were seen in 14.3% (42/293) and 2% (6/293), respectively. The independent predictors for high-risk plaque were age (β=0.052, p<0.001), HbA1c (β=0.182, p=0.004), male (β=0.118, p=0.006), hypertension (β=0.090, p=0.032), and multiple plaques (OR: 4.810 (two plaques) and 8.621 (three plaques), all p<0.001). Conclusions. This study suggests that high-risk carotid plaque was seen in 12.4% (99/801). The high-risk plaque was associated with diabetes control status reflected by the HbA1c level as well as traditional risk factors in asymptomatic Korean population.
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spelling doaj-art-3334646f4126484cbfc4dd2ea4da94922025-08-20T03:55:17ZengWileyCardiovascular Therapeutics1755-59141755-59222020-01-01202010.1155/2020/66175066617506Predictors for High-Risk Carotid Plaque in Asymptomatic Korean PopulationChae Won Jang0Yong Kyun Kim1Ki-Hong Kim2Achangwa Chiara3Moo-Sik Lee4Jang-Ho Bae5Cardiovascular Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaCardiovascular Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaCardiovascular Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaCardiovascular Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaCardiovascular Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaCardiovascular Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaAims. High-risk carotid plaque remains an important risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We sought to evaluate the characteristics of carotid plaque and to find out the predictors for high-risk carotid plaque in asymptomatic Koreans. Methods. Subjects (n=801) without a history of ASCVD from 12 university hospitals in Korea underwent carotid ultrasound. The images were standardized at core laboratory. Morphologic characteristics of plaque were analyzed with laboratory and clinical characteristics. High-risk carotid plaque features included the highest quartile of carotid plaque score (cPS), irregular plaque surface, and hypoechoic and ulcerated plaque. Results. The carotid plaque prevalence was 22.1% (177/801 persons, 293 plaques). The plaque was increased with age (p<0.001) and conventional ASCVD risk estimator (p<0.001) and the most frequently found in bulb (n=190, 64.8%). The number of the highest quartile of cPS was 44/177 (24.9%). Irregular plaque was seen in 20.8% out of total plaque (61/293) and was more frequent in the high-risk 10-year ASCVD risk group than in the low-risk group (36.1% vs. 15.8%, p=0.023). Hypoechoic and ulcerated plaques were seen in 14.3% (42/293) and 2% (6/293), respectively. The independent predictors for high-risk plaque were age (β=0.052, p<0.001), HbA1c (β=0.182, p=0.004), male (β=0.118, p=0.006), hypertension (β=0.090, p=0.032), and multiple plaques (OR: 4.810 (two plaques) and 8.621 (three plaques), all p<0.001). Conclusions. This study suggests that high-risk carotid plaque was seen in 12.4% (99/801). The high-risk plaque was associated with diabetes control status reflected by the HbA1c level as well as traditional risk factors in asymptomatic Korean population.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6617506
spellingShingle Chae Won Jang
Yong Kyun Kim
Ki-Hong Kim
Achangwa Chiara
Moo-Sik Lee
Jang-Ho Bae
Predictors for High-Risk Carotid Plaque in Asymptomatic Korean Population
Cardiovascular Therapeutics
title Predictors for High-Risk Carotid Plaque in Asymptomatic Korean Population
title_full Predictors for High-Risk Carotid Plaque in Asymptomatic Korean Population
title_fullStr Predictors for High-Risk Carotid Plaque in Asymptomatic Korean Population
title_full_unstemmed Predictors for High-Risk Carotid Plaque in Asymptomatic Korean Population
title_short Predictors for High-Risk Carotid Plaque in Asymptomatic Korean Population
title_sort predictors for high risk carotid plaque in asymptomatic korean population
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6617506
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