| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
|
| Year : 2011 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 4 | Page : 150-156 |
|
|
Significance of the Intima-Media thickness of carotid and thoracic aorta in coronary artery disease in the South Indian population
Ramachandran Meenakshisundaram1, Soumen Devidutta2, Andrew D Michaels3, Subramanian Senthilkumaran4, Chinnasamy Rajendiran2, Ponniah Thirumalaikolundusubramanian1
1 Institute of Medicine, Madras Medical College, Chennai; Department of Medicine, Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Irungalur, Trichy, India
2 Institute of Medicine, Madras Medical College, Chennai, India
3 Department of Cardiology, St. Joseph Hospital, Humboldt Medical Specialists, Eureka, CA, USA
4 Department of Emergency Medicine, Srigokulam Hospitals and Research Institute, Salem, India
Correspondence Address:
Ramachandran Meenakshisundaram
104/1/1, Ponnagaram, K R Nagar post, Rajapalayam, Pincode - 626108
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1995-705X.90901
|
|
|
Background: Ultrasound detected intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery and thoracic aorta are possible screening tests to assess the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic individuals.
Objective: Aim of the study was to assess the utility of carotid and aortic IMT as a predictor of CAD and to assess the extent of IMT with severity of CAD in a South Indian population.
Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional and analytical study was carried out among 40 cases, who had angiographic evidence of CAD against 30 healthy control subjects with a normal treadmill test. At plaque-free regions, the carotid IMT was evaluated by B-mode ultrasonography and thoracic aorta IMT was evaluated by trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE). The significance of difference in means between two groups was analyzed using one-way ANOVA F-test and the significance of difference in proportions by Chi-square test. Multiple comparisons were done by Bonferroni t test. The correlation between IMT and severity of CAD was assessed by Spearman's method.
Results: There were 38 males and 2 females among cases with age 51.7 ± 8.3 years, and 28 males and 2 females among control subjects with age 52.2 ± 7.1 years. Increased carotid IMT was noted among 24 cases and 2 control subjects, and the association was significant for CAD [P < 0.001, Chi-square = 20.89, odds ratio (OR) = 21.00, and 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.78-89.59]. Similarly, 19 cases and one control subject had abnormal IMT with positive correlation for CAD (P < 0.001, Chi-square = 16.39, OR = 28.24, and 95% CI = 4.06-163.21). There was no association between IMT and diabetes, hypertension, or smoking; however, IMT was significantly associated with age and dyslipidemia. Also, there was no correlation between extent of IMT and severity of CAD.
Conclusions: IMT of the carotid and thoracic aorta is strongly associated with risk of CAD in a South Indian population, and may be used as a non-invasive screening tool for coronary atherosclerosis in resource-limited settings. The presence of dyslipidemia influenced IMT and may be used as a tool to follow patients on hypolipidemic drugs. |
|
|
|
| [FULL TEXT] [PDF]* |
|
 |
|
