Relationship of age with carotid artery plaques and luminal stenosis / 中华老年心脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the relationship of age with carotid artery plaques and luminal stenosis.Methods One hundred and sixty-five patients who underwent carotid artery ultrasonogra phy in our hospital were divided into ischemic stroke (IS) group (n=100) and IS-free group (n=65) according to their clinical symptoms and ultrasonographic findings.Risk factors for their IS were analyzed.The patients were further divided into ≤59 years old group (n=36),60-79 years old group (n=98) and ≥80 years old group (n=31).Their carotid artery stenosis (CAS) and plaques were analyzed.Results The age was significantly older,the incidence of hypertension,CAS and vulnerable plaques was significantly higher in IS group than in IS-free group (70.6±11.2 years vs 65.1±12.8 years,P=0.004;79.0％ vs 60.0％,P=0.008;40.0％ vs 24.6％,P=0.041;20.0％ vs 6.2％,P=0.014).The detection rate of stable and vulnerable plaques was significantly higher in 60-79 years old group and ≥80 years old group than in ≤59 years old group (P＜0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age was a risk factor for IS,CAS and vulnerablelaques(P=0.000,P=0.023).Conclusion Age is a risk factor for IS.The number of carotid artery vulnerable plaques is greater and the incidence of moderate and severe carotid artery luminal stenosis is higher in IS patients than IS-free patients.The number of carotid artery vulnerable plaques is greater in ≥60 years old patients than in ≤59 years old patients.The incidence of CAS is the highest in ≥80 years old patients who therefore have a higher risk of IS.