ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality among women in several countries. Early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) could enable the adoption of preventive measures to avoid cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of SA in Brazilian asymptomatic postmenopausal women in Framingham Risk Score (FRS) low and intermediate groups. Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) scans were performed in 138 asymptomatic postmenopausal women (56.1 ± 4.9 years of age) to survey for coronary artery and aortic calcification (CT scan) and assess carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and identify carotid plaques (US). The mean FRS was 2.64 ± 2.13 %. The prevalence of increased CIMT, carotid plaques, increased CIMT and/or plaques, coronary artery calcification (CAC) >0 and aortic calcification (AC) were, respectively, 45.7, 37.7, 62.3, 23.9 and 45.7 %. Normal imaging tests were found in 22.4 %. SA, defined as at least one abnormal imaging test, was associated with age, FRS, waist-to-rip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HDL-c and ApoA1 levels, and ApoA1/ApoB ratio. In logistic regression, SA was associated with higher age (OR 1.108, 95 % CI 1.010-1.215, p = 0.029) and lower ApoA1 levels (OR 0.979, 95 % CI 0.960-0.998, p = 0.029). SA was prevalent in Brazilian postmenopausal women with low and intermediate risk groups (FRS) and was associated with higher age and lower levels of ApoA1. Carotid atherosclerosis was the most common presentation of SA in this group.
Subject(s)
Aortic Diseases/epidemiology , Atherosclerosis/epidemiology , Carotid Artery Diseases/epidemiology , Coronary Artery Disease/epidemiology , Postmenopause , Vascular Calcification/epidemiology , Adult , Aged , Aortic Diseases/blood , Aortic Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Aortography/methods , Asymptomatic Diseases , Atherosclerosis/blood , Atherosclerosis/diagnostic imaging , Biomarkers/blood , Blood Pressure , Brazil/epidemiology , Carotid Artery Diseases/blood , Carotid Artery Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Carotid Intima-Media Thickness , Chi-Square Distribution , Computed Tomography Angiography , Coronary Artery Disease/blood , Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Lipids/blood , Logistic Models , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Odds Ratio , Plaque, Atherosclerotic , Postmenopause/blood , Prevalence , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Vascular Calcification/blood , Vascular Calcification/diagnostic imaging , Waist-Hip RatioABSTRACT
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causeof mortality among women in several countries. Early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) could enable the adoption of preventive measures to avoid cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of SA in Brazilian asymptomatic postmenopausal womenin Framingham Risk Score (FRS) low and intermediategroups. Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US)scans were performed in 138 asymptomatic postmenopausal women (56.1±4.9 years of age) to survey for coronary artery and aortic calcification (CT scan) and assesscarotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and identify carotidplaques (US). The mean FRS was 2.64±2.13%. The prevalence of increased CIMT, carotid plaques, increased CIMT and/or plaques, coronary artery calcification (CAC)>0 and aortic calcification (AC) were, respectively, 45.7,37.7, 62.3, 23.9 and 45.7%. Normal imaging tests werefound in 22.4%. SA, defined as at least one abnormalimaging test, was associated with age, FRS, waist-to-ripratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HDL-c andApoA1 levels, and ApoA1/ApoB ratio...
