J Korean Med Sci.  2011 Mar;26(3):365-371. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.3.365.

Normative Values and Correlates of Mean Common Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in the Korean Rural Middle-aged Population: The Atherosclerosis RIsk of Rural Areas iN Korea General Population (ARIRANG) Study

• Youn YJ
• Lee NS
• Kim JY
• Lee JW
• Sung JK
• Ahn SG
• You BS
• Lee SH
• Yoon J
• Choe KH
• Koh SB
• Park JK

• KMID: 2157873
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.3.365

Abstract

Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is considered as a surrogate marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We determined the normative value of CIMT and correlates of CVD risk factors and Framingham risk score (FRS) in Korean rural middle-aged population. We measured CIMT with a B-mode ultrasonography in 1,759 subjects, aged 40 to 70 yr, in a population-based cohort in Korea. A healthy reference sample (n = 433) without CVD, normal weight and normal metabolic parameters was selected to establish normative CIMT values. Correlates between CIMT and conventional CVD risk factors were assessed in the entire population. Mean values of CIMT (in mm) for healthy reference sample aged 40-49, 50-59, and 60-70 yr were 0.55, 0.59, and 0.66 for men and 0.48, 0.55, and 0.63 for women, respectively. In multivariate regression analysis, CIMT was correlated with older age, higher BMI, male gender, higher LDL-cholesterol level and history of diabetes mellitus. The mean CIMT was also correlated with FRS in both gender (r2 = 0.043, P < 0.01 for men; r2 = 0.142, P < 0.01 for women). We identified normative value of CIMT for the healthy Korean rural middle-aged population. The CIMT is associated with age, obesity, gender, LDL-cholesterol, diabetes mellitus and FRS.

Keyword

Atherosclerosis; Intima-Media Thickness; Reference Values

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Atherosclerosis/epidemiology/*ultrasonography
Body Mass Index
Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology/*ultrasonography
Carotid Arteries/*ultrasonography
Cholesterol, LDL/blood
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes Mellitus
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Reference Values
Republic of Korea
Risk Factors
Rural Health

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Measuring Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Measurement using a high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography view of the far wall of the common carotid artery, with an ultrasonography system. The software detects the lumen-intima and the media-adventitia interface at the far wall of the vessel.

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  Fig. 2 Flow chart describing disposition of healthy subjects from the ARIRANG study.

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  Fig. 3 Estimation of mean carotid intima-media thickness according to age groups and genders in healthy reference (men = 107; women = 326). CIMT, carotid intimamedia thickness.

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  Fig. 4 Correlation between carotid intima-media thickness and Framingham risk score according to gender (men = 693; women = 1,023). CIMT, carotid intima-media thickness.

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