Association Between Carotid Plaque Length and Cardiovascular Outcomes

Association Between Carotid Plaque Length and Cardiovascular Outcomes

This multicenter study involved 5 hospitals (Changhai Hospital; Yueyang Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Gongli Hospital; Putuo Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; No. 904 Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force Wuxi). The study enrolled 5000 consecutive patients without known CAD who underwent first coronary angiography for stable chest pain and carotid ultrasound was performed during hospitalization from January 2017 through December 2018.

Patients who had obstructive CAD (defined as ≥50% luminal stenosis) confirmed by coronary angiography and who underwent carotid scanning were included in the final analysis.Carotid ultrasonography was performed simultaneously, and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), maximum thickness and length of all plaques were measured.The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events was recorded during follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who underwent coronary angiography for stable chest pain and carotid ultrasound simultaneously;
• Patients with obstructive CAD (≥50% coronary stenosis);

Exclusion Criteria:

• <18 years of age;
• previous carotid surgery or significant carotid artery disease;
• prior stroke or transient ischemic attack;
• previously documented CAD (including history of myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, or coronary revascularization);