Carotid ultrasonography has been proposed as a tool for prediction of future cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nevertheless, its role in clinical practice remains controversial.

Methods: The investigators analyse the incidence of CVD and mortality in a cohort of 1004 participants without preexisting CVD according to a simple plaque scale recorded in different segments of the carotid artery assess by ultrasound. A prognostic tool for CV events was development adding Carotid Plaque-Burden (CPB) scale to the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE2) table (CPB- SCORE2 scale).

Based in number of plaques and stenosis a simple plaque scale was recorded in different segments of carotid artery, involving a cohort of 1004 participants with vascular risk factors. Outcomes were recorded during 14 years. A prognostic tool for CV events was development adding simple Carotid Plaque-Burden (CPB) scale to the SCORE2 table (CPB- SCORE2 scale).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any of these vascular risk factors: Total cholesterol >200 mg/dL, hypertension, or diabetes, or receiving medication for them
• No cardiovascular disease: coronary, cerebral o peripheral arterial disease.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Associated conditions: cancer, heart failure, chronic obstructive disease, renal insufficiency, neurodegenerative diseases, rheumatic diseases or chronic infections.
• Neck anatomical barriers to perform ultrasound.
• Enrolled in a clinical trial.
• Attend <70% of regular appointments

Patients with a major vascular risk factor, hypertension, diabetes or hypercholesterolemia, from vascular risk office at the Hospital Universitario San Pedro de Alcántara, Cáceres, Spain