J Korean Soc Vasc Surg.  1999 Nov;15(2):228-233.

Prevalence of Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis in Korea

• Park KC
• Kim DI
• Lee SJ
• Lee BB
• Lee CH
• Kim DY
• Heo JS
• Kim YI

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of atherosclerotic disease of the extracranial carotid artery in healthy Korean population.
METHODS
Eight hundred twenty-five patients without previous history of transient ischemic attack, amaurosis fugax, and/or any neurologic deficit who underwent carotid artery ultrasonography were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into five groups according to the degree of carotid artery stenosis using real-time B-mode high resolution ultrasonography; Group A-normal carotid artery, Group B-below 30% of carotid artery stenosis, Group C-from 31% to 50% of carotid artery stenosis, Group D-from 51% to 70% of carotid artery stenosis, Group E-above 71% of carotid artery stenosis. Medical Records of all patients were investigated for following factors; sex, age, family history, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TG (triglyceride), HbA-1c (hemoglobin A-1c), and folate.
RESULTS
12.5% of asymptomatic patients have carotid stenosis due to atherosclerosis of extracranial carotid artery. The prevalence of extracranial carotid artery stenosis was as follows; Group B: 2.2%, Group C: 7.0%, Group D: 3.0%. The age, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HbA-1c were significantly higher in Group B, C, D than Group A (P=0.001, 0.016, 0.011, 0.001). The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension were significantly higher in Group B, C, D than Group A. Other factors, however, were not different among the groups.
CONCLUSION
Asymptomatic carotid artherosclerosis is not uncommon in Korea. Carotid ultrasonography would be necessary for patients with hypertension, diabetes, and high serum cholesterol level.

Keyword

Carotid; Atherosclerosis; Stroke; Endarterectomy

MeSH Terms

Amaurosis Fugax
Atherosclerosis
Carotid Arteries
Carotid Artery Diseases*
Carotid Stenosis
Cholesterol
Diabetes Mellitus
Endarterectomy
Folic Acid
Humans
Hypertension
Ischemic Attack, Transient
Korea*
Medical Records
Neurologic Manifestations
Prevalence*
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Smoke
Smoking
Stroke
Ultrasonography
Cholesterol
Folic Acid
Smoke