ABSTRACT
Objetivo - Avaliar a associaçäo entre as ateroscleroses carotideana e coronariana e outras condiçöes relacioandas à prevalência da doença carotideana. Métodos - Ecografia com Doppler das carótidas foi realizada em 130 pacientes 970 homens e 60 mulheres), com idades variando entre 26 e 89 anos. De acordo com a presença de cardiopatia isquêmica, foram divididos em 3 grupos: I) com cardiopatia isquêmica comprovada; II) com baixa probabilidade da doença. III) com alta probabilidade da doença. A aterosclerose carotideana foi classificada como ausente (normal), leve (obstruçäo abaixo de 30//), moderada (30-49//), moderada/grave (50-74//), grave (>75//), e oclusäo total (anormais) por critérios de Doppler. Resultados - Carótidas normais foram encontradas em 44(33,9//), aterosclerose leve em 68(52,3//) moderada em 7(5,4//), moderada/grave em 5(3,8//), grave em 5(3,8//) e obstruçäo total em 1(0,8//) dos 130 pacientes. A prevalência da doença aumentou com a idade (31,2// naqueles com idade até 54 anos, 66,3// com idade entre 55 e 76 anos, e 88// com idade de 77 anos ou mais) e foi maior nos homens que nas mulheres (75,7// x 55//). Todas essas diferenças foram estatisticamente significantes. Dos 48 pacientes do grupo I, 41 (85,4//) tinham carótidas anormais (26 leve, 6 moderada, 3 moderada/grave, 5 grave e 1 total), enquanto que nos pacientes do grupo II, 27(42,2//) tinham carótidas anormais (24 leve, 1 moderada e 2 moderada/grave), diferença significante com p < 0,001 que persistiu quando os grupos II e III foram analisados juntos, e 45(54,9//) dos 82 tinham carótidas anormais. Todos os pacientes com obstruçäo grave das carótidas (6 pacientes) apresentavam obstruçäo coronariana grave. Conclusäo - A prevalência da aterosclerose carotideana foi alta, em 66,2// dos pacientes, aumentando com a idade, e sendo maior nos homens que nas mulheres. Houve associaçäo estatisticamente significante entre as ateroscleroses corotideana e coronariana e a presença de obstruçäo carotideana grave correlacionou-se com a presença de obstruçäo coronariana grave
Purpose - To evaluate the association between carotid and coronary atherosclerosis and other conditions related to the prevalence of carotid disease. Methods - Duplex scanning of carotid arteries was performed in 130 patients (70 males and 60 females), with ages between 26 and 89 years-old. Accordingly to the presence of ischemic heart disease, they were divided in 3 groups: I) with proved ischemic heart disease; II) with low probability of disease and III) with high probability of disease. The carotid atherosclerosis was classified as absent (normul result), mild (obstruction below 30%).moderate (30-49%), moderate/severe (50-74%), severe (>75%), and total occlusion (abnormal results) by Doppler criteria. Results - Normal carotids were found in 44 (33.9%), mild atherosclerosis in 68(52.3%), moderate in 7(5.4%), moderate/severe in 5(3.8%/), severe in 5(3.8%) and total occlusion in 1(0.8%) of the 130 patients. The prevalence of the disease increased with age (31.2% in patients until 54 years-old, 66.3% in those with age between 55 and 76 years-old, and 88% in those with 77 years-old or more), and it was higher in males than females (75.7% x 55%). All the differences were of statistical significance. In the 48 patients of group I, 41 (85.4%) had abnormal carotids (26 mild, 6 moderate, 3 moderate/severe, 5 severe, and 1 total), whereas in the 64 patients of group II, 27 (42.2%) were abnormals (24 mild, 1 moderate, and 2 moderate/severe), significant difference with p<0.001. This significant difference persisted when the groups II and III were joined, and 45 (54.9%) of 82 patients had abnormal carotids. All the patients with severe obstruction of carotid arteries (6 patients) had severe coronary obstruction. Conclusion - The prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was high, in 66,2% of the patients. It increased with age, and it was higher in males than females. There was a statistically significant association between carotid and coronary atherosclerosis, and the presence of severe carotid obstruction was related to presence of severe coronary obstruction