Relationship Between Carotid Artery Intima Media Thickness and Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases in Young Men

Positive correlation between age, leading risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) has been shown in numerous studies. Contingent of the present work was a part of long term cohort study initiated in 1983. We included in analysis data from 233 men in 120 of whom we measured IMT of right and left common carotid arteries. Other examinations included use of standard questionnaire for detection of CVD risk factors, measurement of blood serum lipid and glucose levels, arterial pressure, pulse, body mass and length, waist and hip circumferences (WC, HC), skin fold thicknesses on triceps, abdomen and forearm. We found that carotid artery IMT was related to hereditary load by CVD along paternal line. Substantial influence on the realization of unfavorable inheritance exerted level of systolic arterial pressure. Difference in magnitude of carotid artery IMT between groups of men with normal body mass and obesity were conditioned by variations in severity of abdominal obesity (WC/HC). IMT of carotid arteries in men directly depended on magnitude of their abdominal obesity and age.