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Prediction of Clinical Cardiovascular Events with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness

2015-01-14

Prediction of Clinical Cardiovascular Events with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness


 

Background: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is increasingly used as a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis.



Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is an intermediate phenotype for early atherosclerosis. Increased IMT is associated with vascular risk factors. 

An important precondition for this application of IMT is that it can predict future risk of clinilcal vascular events. A number of longitudinal studes have examined the relationship between IMT and future events, most frequently the incidence of cardiac events (myocardial infarction MI, angina pectoris, coronary intervention) and cerebrovascular events (stroke or transient ischemic attack TIA).



 
For an absolute carotid IMT difference of 0.1 mm, the future risk of MI increase by 10% to 15%, and the stroke risk increases by 13% to 18%.