Sex Differences in Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Carotid Plaque among Adults: A Population-based Cross-Sectional Study in Rural China

Prevalence and associated risk factors of carotid plaque and artery stenosis in China: a population-based study

Stroke is a critical health issue in China, and carotid artery stenosis and plaque play key roles in its prevalence. Despite the acknowledged significance of this condition, detailed information regarding the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque across the Chinese population has been scarce. This study analyzed data from the China Stroke High-risk Population Screening and Intervention Program for 2020-2021, focusing on 194 878 Chinese adults aged 40 years and above. It assessed the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque and identified their associated risk factors. Results revealed a standardized prevalence of 0.40% for carotid artery stenosis and 36.27% for carotid plaque. Notably, the highest rates of stenosis were observed in north and south China at 0.61%, while southwestern China exhibited the highest plaque prevalence at 43.17%. Key risk factors included older age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, smoking, and atrial fibrillation. This study highlights significant geographical and demographic disparities in the prevalence of these conditions, underlining the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy reforms. These measures are essential for reducing the incidence of stroke and improving patient outcomes, addressing this significant health challenge in China.

Application of machine learning algorithms in predicting carotid artery plaques using routine health assessments

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) constitute a grave global health challenge, engendering significant socio-economic repercussions. Carotid artery plaques (CAP) are critical determinants of CVD risk, and proactive screening can substantially mitigate the frequency of cardiovascular incidents. However, the unequal distribution of medical resources precludes many patients from accessing carotid ultrasound diagnostics. Machine learning (ML) offers an effective screening alternative, delivering accurate predictions without the need for advanced diagnostic equipment. This study aimed to construct ML models that utilize routine health assessments and blood biomarkers to forecast the onset of CAP.

Methods

In this study, seven ML models, including LightGBM, LR, multi-layer perceptron (MLP), NBM, RF, SVM, and XGBoost, were used to construct the prediction model, and their performance in predicting the risk of CAP was compared. Data on health checkups and biochemical indicators were collected from 19,751 participants at the Beijing MJ Health Screening Center for model training and validation. Of these, 6,381 were diagnosed with CAP using carotid ultrasonography. In this study, 21 indicators were selected. The performance of the models was evaluated using the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), F1 score, and area under the curve (AUC) value.

Results

Among the seven ML models, the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) had the highest AUC value (85.4%). Moreover, age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), gender, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and total cholesterol (CHOL) were the top five predictors of carotid plaque formation.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the feasibility of predicting carotid plaque risk using ML algorithms. ML offers effective tools for improving public health monitoring and risk assessment, with the potential to improve primary care and community health by identifying high-risk individuals and enabling proactive healthcare measures and resource optimization.

Sex-specific cardiovascular risk factors in the UK Biobank

The lack of sex-specific cardiovascular disease criteria contributes to the underdiagnosis of women compared to that of men. For more than half a century, the Framingham Risk Score has been the gold standard to estimate an individual's risk of developing cardiovascular disease based on the age, sex, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, diabetes status, and the smoking status. Now, machine learning can offer a much more nuanced insight into predicting the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The UK Biobank is a large database that includes traditional risk factors and tests related to the cardiovascular system: magnetic resonance imaging, pulse wave analysis, electrocardiograms, and carotid ultrasounds. Here, we leverage 20,542 datasets from the UK Biobank to build more accurate cardiovascular risk models than the Framingham Risk Score and quantify the underdiagnosis of women compared to that of men. Strikingly, for a first-degree atrioventricular block and dilated cardiomyopathy, two conditions with non-sex-specific diagnostic criteria, our study shows that women are under-diagnosed 2× and 1.4× more than men. Similarly, our results demonstrate the need for sex-specific criteria in essential primary hypertension and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Our feature importance analysis reveals that out of the top 10 features across three sexes and four disease categories, traditional Framingham factors made up between 40% and 50%; electrocardiogram, 30%-33%; pulse wave analysis, 13%-23%; and magnetic resonance imaging and carotid ultrasound, 0%-10%. Improving the Framingham Risk Score by leveraging big data and machine learning allows us to incorporate a wider range of biomedical data and prediction features, enhance personalization and accuracy, and continuously integrate new data and knowledge, with the ultimate goal to improve accurate prediction, early detection, and early intervention in cardiovascular disease management. Our analysis pipeline and trained classifiers are freely available at https://github.com/LivingMatterLab/CardiovascularDiseaseClassification.

Combinatorial Use of Machine Learning and Logistic Regression for Predicting Carotid Plaque Risk Among 5.4 Million Adults With Fatty Liver Disease Receiving Health Check-Ups: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Carotid plaque can progress into stroke, myocardial infarction, etc, which are major global causes of death. Evidence shows a significant increase in carotid plaque incidence among patients with fatty liver disease. However, unlike the high detection rate of fatty liver disease, screening for carotid plaque in the asymptomatic population is not yet prevalent due to cost-effectiveness reasons, resulting in a large number of patients with undetected carotid plaques, especially among those with fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to combine the advantages of machine learning (ML) and logistic regression to develop a straightforward prediction model among the population with fatty liver disease to identify individuals at risk of carotid plaque.

METHODS

Our study included 5,420,640 participants with fatty liver from Meinian Health Care Center. We used random forest, elastic net (EN), and extreme gradient boosting ML algorithms to select important features from potential predictors. Features acknowledged by all 3 models were enrolled in logistic regression analysis to develop a carotid plaque prediction model. Model performance was evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, Brier score, and decision curve analysis both in a randomly split internal validation data set, and an external validation data set comprising 32,682 participants from MJ Health Check-up Center. Risk cutoff points for carotid plaque were determined based on the Youden index, predicted probability distribution, and prevalence rate of the internal validation data set to classify participants into high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups. This risk classification was further validated in the external validation data set.

RESULTS

Among the participants, 26.23% (1,421,970/5,420,640) were diagnosed with carotid plaque in the development data set, and 21.64% (7074/32,682) were diagnosed in the external validation data set. A total of 6 features, including age, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) were collectively selected by all 3 ML models out of 27 predictors. After eliminating the issue of collinearity between features, the logistic regression model established with the 5 independent predictors reached an area under the curve of 0.831 in the internal validation data set and 0.801 in the external validation data set, and showed good calibration capability graphically. Its predictive performance was comprehensively competitive compared with the single use of either logistic regression or ML algorithms. Optimal predicted probability cutoff points of 25% and 65% were determined for classifying individuals into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk categories for carotid plaque.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of ML and logistic regression yielded a practical carotid plaque prediction model, and was of great public health implications in the early identification and risk assessment of carotid plaque among individuals with fatty liver.

Nomogram model and risk score to predict 5-year risk of progression from prediabetes to diabetes in Chinese adults: Development and validation of a novel model

AIM

To develop a personalized nomogram and risk score to predict the 5-year risk of diabetes among Chinese adults with prediabetes.

METHODS

There were 26 018 participants with prediabetes at baseline in this retrospective cohort study. We randomly stratified participants into two cohorts for training (n = 12 947) and validation (n = 13 071). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model was applied to select the most significant variables among candidate variables. And we further established a stepwise Cox proportional hazards model to screen out the risk factors based on the predictors chosen by the LASSO model. We presented the model with a nomogram. The model's discrimination, clinical use and calibration were assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, decision curve and calibration analysis. The associated risk factors were also categorized according to clinical cut-points or tertials to create the diabetes risk score model. Based on the total score, we divided it into four risk categories: low, middle, high and extremely high. We also evaluated our diabetes risk score model's performance.

RESULTS

We developed a simple nomogram and risk score that predicts the risk of prediabetes by using the variables age, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, body mass index, alanine aminotransferase, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and family history of diabetes. The area under the ROC curve of the nomogram was 0.8146 (95% CI 0.8035-0.8258) and 0.8147 (95% CI 0.8035-0.8259) for the training and validation cohort, respectively. The calibration curve showed a perfect fit between predicted and observed diabetes risks at 5 years. Decision curve analysis presented the clinical use of the nomogram, and there was a wide range of alternative threshold probability spectrums. A total risk score of 0 to 2.5, 3 to 4.5, 5 to 7.5 and 8 to 13.5 is associated with low, middle, high and extremely high diabetes risk status, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed and validated a personalized prediction nomogram and risk score for 5-year diabetes risk among Chinese adults with prediabetes, identifying individuals at a high risk of developing diabetes. Doctors and other healthcare professionals can easily and quickly use our diabetes score model to assess the diabetes risk status in patients with prediabetes. In addition, the nomogram model and risk score we developed need to be validated in a prospective cohort study.

Sex differences in the Norwegian Tenecteplase Trial (NOR-TEST)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Sex differences in acute ischemic stroke is of increasing interest in the era of precision medicine. We aimed to explore sex disparities in baseline characteristics, management and outcomes in patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis included in the Norwegian Tenecteplase trial (NOR-TEST).

METHODS

NOR-TEST was an open-label, randomized, blinded endpoint trial, performed from 2012 to 2016, comparing treatment with tenecteplase to treatment with alteplase within 4.5 h after acute ischemic stroke symptom onset. Sex differences at baseline, treatment and outcomes were compared using multivariable logistic regression models. Heterogeneity in treatment was evaluated by including an interaction term in the model.

RESULTS

Of 1100 patients enrolled, 40% were women, and in patients aged >80 years, the proportion of women was greater than men (19% vs. 14%; p = 0.02). Women had a lower burden of cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus (11% vs. 15%; p = 0.05) and a higher mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (1.7 ± 0.6 mmol/L vs. 1.3 ± 0.4 mmol/L; p < 0.001), and a higher proportion of women had never smoked (45% vs. 33%; p < 0.001) compared with men. While there was no sex difference in time from onset of symptoms to admission, door to needle time or in-hospital workup, women were admitted with more severe stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score 6.2 ± 5.6 vs. 5.3 ± 5.1; p = 0.01). Stroke mimic diagnosis was more common in women (21% vs. 15%; p = 0.01). There were no significant sex differences in clinical outcome, measured by the NIHSS, the modified Rankin Scale, intracranial hemorrhage and mortality.

CONCLUSION

Women were underrepresented in number in NOR-TEST. The included women had a lower cardiovascular risk factor burden and more severe strokes.

Carotid Ultrasound Screening Programs in Rural Communities: A Systematic Review

Carotid atherosclerosis assessments inform about stroke and cardiovascular risk. It is known that stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence is higher in rural communities than in urban communities. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of rural carotid ultrasound screening programs to define carotid atherosclerosis using traditional and emerging imaging biomarkers, prevalence, and risk factors. We searched Ovid/MEDLINE, Ovid/EMBASE, SCOPUS and CINAHL from inception to 3 April 2020 for rural population studies that utilized carotid ultrasound screening for adults ≥40 years of age and free of known cerebrovascular disease. Studies were included if participants received a bilateral ultrasound scanning of the carotid arteries and reported at least one marker of carotid atherosclerosis pathology. A random effect meta-analyses calculated the estimated prevalence of carotid plaque. In total, 22/3461 articles that met all of the inclusion criteria were included. Studies reported increased intima media thickness (IMT), carotid plaque presence and carotid artery stenosis. There were no studies reporting on novel imaging markers, such as carotid stiffness, carotid plaque morphology or neovascularization. The overall random effect pooled prevalence of carotid plaque was 34.1% (95% CI, 33.6–35.0); the prevalence of increased IMT was 11.2–41.5%, and the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis was 0.4–16.0%. There is an absence of data necessary to understand the carotid atherosclerosis prevalence across global rural populations. Represented studies have focused on East Asian countries where a high burden of rural carotid artery disease has been reported. There is no rural evidence to guide the use of novel ultrasound carotid biomarkers such as stiffness or neovascularization.

Sex -Specific Differences in the Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Among a Low-Income Population in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

Carotid atherosclerosis is a well-established biomarker associated with future cardiovascular disease and stroke. We explored the influence of sex on the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) among a low-income population in China, which has a high incidence of stroke.

METHODS

This population-based study recruited participants aged ≥45 years from rural areas of Tianjin, China between April 2014 and January 2015. Anthropometric characteristics and biochemical profiles were measured. CIMT was assessed using ultrasonography. Diagnosis of MetS and its components was made using the modified International Diabetes Federation criteria for the Asian population. A multivariate linear regression model was used to evaluate the effects of sex on the relationship between the presence of MetS and its components and CIMT.

RESULTS

A total of 3583 individuals (men, 41.4%; women, 58.6%) were included in the analyses. MetS was prevalent in 54.5% (men, 42.3%; women, 63.2%) of the participants. Mean CIMT was 0.57 ± 0.09 mm. In the multivariate analysis, for both sexes, CIMT increased significantly when MetS was present compared with when it was not (both P < 0.001). A common trend was observed in both sexes, in that CIMT increased as the number of MetS components increased, with β (95% confidence interval [CI]) = 0.021 (0.000, 0.042) for men and 0.014 (0.002, 0.026) for women (both P < 0.05). Of the five MetS components, elevated blood pressure was an independent risk factor for increased CIMT in both sexes (men: β = 0.013; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.023; P = 0.008; women: β = 0.024; 95% CI: 0.016, 0.033; P < 0.001). Moreover, abdominal obesity was also an independent risk factor for increased CIMT in men (β = 0.013; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.023; P = 0.008) but not in women.

CONCLUSION

The presence and number of components of MetS were associated with CIMT in both men and women. Sex differences were found in the impact of individual components of MetS on CIMT. Early identification and management of MetS according to sex-specific risk of MetS should be considered to reduce the prevalence and burden of carotid atherosclerosis in rural China, which has a high incidence of stroke, a known consequence of carotid atherosclerosis.

Determinants of carotid intima-media thickness in asymptomatic elders: a population-based cross-sectional study in rural China

Objective: To examine the mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and potentially relevant determinants of increased CIMT in elders. Method: Stroke-free and cardiovascular disease-free residents aged ≥65 years were recruited in a low-income population in China. B-mode ultrasonography was performed to measure CIMT. Results: A total of 1039 individuals (47.9% men) were recruited. The mean CIMT value was 0.60 (SD: 0.09) mm. The mean CIMT was 24.07 (SEM: 6.52) µm greater in men than in women (P < 0.001) and 28.29 (SEM: 7.47) µm greater in patients with hypertension than in those without hypertension (P < 0.001). Moreover, the mean CIMT increased by 1.53 (SEM: 0.49) µm for each 1-year increase in age (P = 0.002). However, the mean CIMT decreased by 5.55 (SEM: 2.40) μm and 6.45 (SEM: 2.62) μm for every 1-mmol/L increase in triglyceride concentration and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, respectively (P < 0.05). However, high triglyceride level was negatively associated with mean CIMT only among individuals without metabolic syndrome (P = 0.036). Discussion: These findings suggest that there is an urgent need to delay atherosclerosis progression and reduce the stroke burden by managing hypertension, especially for men. Moreover, to decrease the stroke burden in rural China, caution is advised regarding lipid-lowering treatment in elderly patients without metabolic syndrome.

Association between blood pressure components and the presence of carotid plaque among adults aged 45 years and older: a population-based cross-sectional study in rural China

OBJECTIVE

Pulse pressure is strongly associated with the early development of large-vessel atherosclerotic disease. However, the relationship between pulse pressure and carotid plaque in China is unknown. Thus, we investigated the associations of pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure with the presence of carotid plaques in a low-income population in rural China.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

Residents, aged ≥45 years, without histories of stroke or cardiovascular disease were enrolled. Participant demographics, previous medical histories, and lifestyle information were collected; anthropometric measures, serum profiles, and B-mode ultrasonographic investigations were also performed.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants (n = 3789) was 59.9 years overall (men 61.1 years; women, 59.1 years). The mean SBP (146.42 mmHg) and DBP (86.81 mmHg), pulse pressures (59.61 mmHg), and mean arterial pressures (106.68 mmHg) were high in this population. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the association of pulse pressure with the presence of carotid plaques was 1.028 (1.023-1.033), in the univariate analysis. After gradual adjustment for demographic features, risk factors, and serum profile measurements, this positive association remained statistically significant (all, P < 0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between mean arterial pressure and the presence of carotid plaques.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that an elevated pulse pressure is an independent risk factor for the presence of carotid plaque. These results suggest that enhanced monitoring of blood pressure components, among low-income residents, is crucial for decreasing the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular disease in China.

The association of CHA2DS2-VASc score and carotid plaque in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the association between CHA₂DS₂-VASc score and carotid plaques in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study including 3,435 NVAF patients who underwent carotid ultrasound examinations from January 2015 to December 2017.We collected the clinical data on the medical records system. Chi-square trend test was used to analyze trends between the prevalence of carotid plaques with an increasing CHA₂DS₂-VASc score. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was also used to assess the association between carotid plaques and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to determine the optimal cutoff points of different CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores in NVAF patients.

Results

NVAF patients with carotid plaques had higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores compared with patients who did not have carotid plaques (3.01±1.36 vs. 2.55±1.28, P < 0.05). In all participants, male participants and female participants, the prevalence of carotid plaques increased significantly as the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score increased (P for trend < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that for each 1-point increase in the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, there was an associated 37% increase in the prevalence of carotid plaques. ROC curve analysis revealed that a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ≥ 2 in male patients (sensitivity, 44.67%; specificity, 75.64%; AUC, 0.639) or ≥ 3 in female patients (sensitivity, 47.24%; specificity, 72.40%; AUC, 0.634) were associated with carotid plaques.

Conclusion

The prevalence of carotid plaques in patients with NVAF was associated with the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score.

Sex-Based Differences in Diabetes Prevalence and Risk Factors: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study Among Low-Income Adults in China

Aims: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) among adults has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, including China. In China, sex-based differences in the prevalence and risk factors of DM may exist, particularly among low-income individuals. Thus, we assessed these differences in the prevalence of DM and its risk factors in a low-income Chinese population. Materials and Methods: Residents aged ≥45 years without histories of strokes or cardiovascular disease were recruited for this study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of risk factors with DM prevalence. Results: This study included 3,725 participants (41.2%, men; 58.8%, women). The mean age of the women (61.12 years) was higher than that of the men (59.14 years, P < 0.001). There was no significant sex-based difference in DM prevalence (men, 14.1%; women, 14.5%). Overweight, obesity, high triglyceride levels, and hypertension were independent risk factors for DM in both sexes. However, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were negatively associated with DM risk among men [odds ratio (OR), 0.544; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.355-0.833; P = 0.005]. Among women, advanced age and high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were independent risk factors for DM; there was a higher DM risk for women aged 55-74 years than for those aged 45-54 years; however, physical activity was associated with an increased risk of DM (OR, 1.705; 95% CI, 1.195-2.432; P = 0.003). Conclusions: These findings suggest a crucial need to implement individualized blood pressure, weight, and lipid managements in low-income populations in China to reduce the burden of DM, especially among older women.

Sex Differences in the Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Diabetes Mellitus Among Adults Aged 45 Years and Older in Rural Areas of Northern China: A Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Study

Aims: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has reached epidemic proportions among adults worldwide, with China having the world's largest population of individuals with the disease. Although the consequences of low rates of awareness, treatment, and control of DM are understood, sex-related differences in these rates remain unknown. We assessed sex-related differences in the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of DM in a low-income, rural population in China. Materials and Methods: Individuals ≥45 years old without cardiovascular disease were recruited into this study. The prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of DM in both men and women were assessed after accounting for age, educational level, body mass index, and blood pressure. Results: A total of 3,725 participants (women, 58.8%) were included. A male preponderance in the prevalence of DM was found among individuals aged 45-54 years, whereas there was a female preponderance among patients aged 65-74 years and among those who were illiterate. Among individuals with >6 years of formal education, overweight individuals, and normotensive individuals, there was greater DM awareness among women than among men. There was also a higher DM treatment rate among overweight women than among overweight men. However, better disease control was observed among men than among women for individuals aged 55-64-years, those with 1-6 years of education, and those with stage II hypertension. Conclusions: These results suggest that DM awareness should be improved among men and that regular DM screening should be implemented for men, especially young men. In addition, disease education and management should be strengthened for elderly women, especially those with low levels of education. Further studies are necessary to explore this situation among a representative population sample in China in order to establish a valid protocol against DM.

Prevalence of Carotid Plaque in a 63- to 65-Year-Old Norwegian Cohort From the General Population: The ACE (Akershus Cardiac Examination) 1950 Study

Background

New data on extracranial carotid atherosclerosis are needed, as improved ultrasound techniques may detect more atherosclerosis, the definition of plaque has changed over the years, and better cardiovascular risk control in the population may have changed patterns of carotid arterial wall disease and actual prevalence of established cardiovascular disease. We investigated the prevalence of atherosclerotic carotid plaques and carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) and their relation to cardiovascular risk factors in a middle‐aged cohort from the general population.

Methods and Results

We performed carotid ultrasound in 3683 participants who were born in 1950 and included in a population‐based Norwegian study. Carotid plaque and cIMT were assessed according to the Mannheim Carotid Intima–Media Thickness and Plaque Consensus, and a carotid plaque score was used to calculate atherosclerotic burden. The participants were aged 63 to 65 years, and 49% were women. The prevalence of established cardiovascular disease was low (10%), but 62% had hypertension, 53% had hypercholesterolemia, 11% had diabetes mellitus, and 23% were obese. Mean cIMT was 0.73±0.11 mm, and atherosclerotic carotid plaques were present in 87% of the participants (median plaque score: 2; interquartile range: 3). Most of the cardiovascular risk factors, with the exception of diabetes mellitus, obesity and waist–hip ratio, were independently associated with the plaque score. In contrast, only sex, hypertension, obesity, current smoking, and cerebrovascular disease were associated with cIMT.

Conclusions

We found very high prevalence of carotid plaque in this middle‐aged population, and our data support a greater association between cardiovascular risk factors and plaque burden, compared with cIMT.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01555411.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Cognitive Impairment Among Elderly Without Cardio- and Cerebrovascular Diseases: A Population-Based Study in Rural China

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of cognitive impairment and the distribution of its risk factors among residents aged ≥60 years without cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in rural areas of northern China screened with the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Between 2012 and 2013, a questionnaire survey was conducted to collect basic information from participants. Cognitive function was assessed using the MMSE. In the univariate analysis, risk factors for cognitive disorders were female sex, low education and central obesity, while drinking was found to be a protective factor. In the multivariate analysis, risk factors were old age (odds ratio [OR], 1.888; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.256–2.838; P = 0.002 for the 70-year-old group compared with the 60-year-old group; OR, 3.593; 95% CI, 2.468–5.230; P < 0.001 for the ≥75-year-old group compared with the 60-year-old group), low education (OR, 3.779; 95% CI: 2.218–6.440; P < 0.001 for the illiterate group compared with the group with ≥9 years of education; OR, 1.667; 95% CI, 1.001–2.775; P = 0.05 for the group with less than primary school compared with the group with ≥9 years of education), and higher blood pressure (BP; OR, 1.655; 95% CI: 1.076–2.544; P = 0.002 for individuals with stage III hypertension compared with those with normal BP). These findings suggest that it is crucial to manage and control level of BP, and improve educational attainment in order to reduce the prevalence and burden of cognitive impairment among low-income residents in rural China.

Factors Associated with Intima-Media Complex Thickness of the Common Carotid Artery in Japanese Noncardioembolic Stroke Patients with Hyperlipidemia: The J-STARS Echo Study

Aims: There may be ethnic differences in carotid atherosclerosis and its contributing factors between Asian and other populations. The purpose of this study was to examine intima-media complex thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery and associated clinical factors in Japanese stroke patients with hyperlipidemia from a cohort of the Japan Statin Treatment Against Recurrent Stroke Echo Study.

Methods: Patients with hyperlipidemia, not on statins, who developed noncardioembolic ischemic stroke were included in this study. Mean IMT and maximum IMT of the distal wall of the common carotid artery were centrally measured using carotid ultrasonography. Significant factors related to mean IMT and maximum IMT were examined using multivariable analysis.

Results: In 793 studied patients, mean IMT was 0.89 ± 0.15 mm and maximum IMT was 1.19 ± 0.32 mm. Age (per 10 years, parameter estimate = 0.044, p < 0.001), smoking (0.022, p = 0.004), category of blood pressure (0.022, p = 0.006), HDL cholesterol (per 10 mg/dl, −0.009, p = 0.008), and diabetes mellitus (0.033, p = 0.010) were independently associated with mean IMT. Age (per 10 years, 0.076, p < 0.001), smoking (0.053, p = 0.001), HDL cholesterol (−0.016, p = 0.036), and diabetes mellitus (0.084, p = 0.002) were independently associated with maximum IMT.

Conclusion: Baseline mean and maximum values of carotid IMT in Japanese noncardioembolic stroke patients with hyperlipidemia were 0.89 ± 0.15 mm and 1.19 ± 0.32 mm, respectively, which were similar to those previously reported from Western countries. Age, smoking, hypertension, HDL cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus were associated with mean IMT, and those, except for hypertension, were associated with maximum IMT.