BACKGROUND: A high prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in the population and its frequent association with several risk factors contribute to high morbidity and mortality rates. OBJECTIVE: To investigate frequency and association of extracranial carotid atherosclerosis with age, sex, hypertension, ischemic coronary disease, smoking, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, carotid occlusion, intima-media thickness and kinking. METHODS: The carotid and bilateral extracranial arteries of 367 individuals (132 males and 235 females), with a mean of 63 years of age (35-91 years) were evaluated via anamnesis, clinical semiology and ultrasonography. The possible association between carotid atherosclerosis, represented by unspecific atheromatous plaques with stenosis > 10% or discrete and diffuse atheromatosis with stenosis < 10% and the risk factors listed above was statistically analyzed by the odds ratio with a confidence interval of 95%. RESULTS: The frequency of carotid atherosclerosis and intima-media thickness was, respectively, 52 and 30.2%. There was an association between atherosclerosis types and age (> 64 years), stroke, obesity and smoking. When only carotid stenosis > 60% was considered, there was an association with age (> 64 years), carotid occlusion and coronary disease. Intima-media thickness was associated with age (> 64 years), kinking, carotid occlusion, hypertension and ankle-brachial index < 0.9. CONCLUSION: Carotid atherosclerosis is highly prevalent in the population (52%) and is associated with age, obesity, stroke, coronary disease, and smoking.
Atherosclerosis; carotid stenosis; ultrasonography; Doppler; risk factors