Relationship between carotid intima-media thickness and coronary angiographic findings: a prospective study

Cardiovascular-related deaths are the leading cause of death both in Turkey and worldwide [1‐3]. At the time of onset of clinical findings, an advanced stage of involvement is often present in atherosclerotic disease. Thus, limited benefit can be obtained from various interventions beyond that point. Many significant changes occur in the arterial wall, including endothelial dysfunction and an increase in intima-media thickness, before the onset of clinical findings, and these changes can be useful in the early diagnosis of atherosclerosis [4, 5].

After the first report of intima-media thickness measurement by Pignoli et al. [6], rapid progress has been noted in ultrasonographic imaging methods and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) has begun to be used as an inexpensive, reliable, and reproducible method in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis [7, 8].

In the current study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between CIMT and coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients evaluated by coronary angiography for suspected CAD.

One hundred consecutive patients referred to our cardiology outpatient clinic with stable angina pectoris and documented ischemia on a stress test were included in the study. Patients with previous myocardial infarction, coronary-artery bypass graft operation and stroke were excluded. Informed consent was obtained from all of the patients. The patients were then scheduled for coronary angiography and carotid doppler ultrasound examination. All of the patients underwent carotid doppler ultrasound examination for measurement of the CIMT by a single radiologist blinded to the angiographic result.

All of the carotid scans were done by an ultrasonography device (General Electric Logic 9; USA) equipped with a 10 mHz linear probe. The CIMT was measured 1 cm distal to the bulbus over a length of 1 cm of both carotid arteries. Manual measurements in five different locations on the far-wall were taken and the maximum value was taken for each carotid artery. The final CIMT was evaluated as the average of right and left carotid arteries [9].

Coronary angiography was performed by the standard Judkins method using a General Electric System 2000, and the results were evaluated by one experienced interventional cardiologist. Luminal narrowing at least one lesion > 50% in the within the main branches of coronary artery was considered as significant CAD.

While no significant narrowing was noted in coronary arteries in 39 of 100 (39%) patients evaluated by coronary angiography, significant narrowing was noted in 61 patients (61%). The demographic characteristics, the extent of CAD, and the distribution of the mean CIMT values in both groups are presented in Table 1 and in Figures 1 and 2. There were significantly more hypertensive, diabetic, and hyperlipidemic patients in Group 2 (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, and smoking habits.

The mean CIMT was 0.78 ± 0.21 mm in Group 1, and 1.48 ± 0.28 mm in Group 2 (p = 0.001). The mean CIMT was statistically significantly higher in the groups with single vessel disease, multi-vessel disease, and left main coronary artery disease compared to Group 1 (1.2 ± 0.34 mm, p = 0.02; 1.6 ± 0.32 mm, p = 0.001; and 1.8 ± 0.31 mm, p = 0.0001, respectively; Figure 2).

A regression model was created using variables that were significantly associated with CAD on univariate analysis, CIMT (>1.0 mm), hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Backward stepwise analysis on this model identified CIMT (OR 4.3, p < 0.001) and hypertension (OR 2.4, p = 0.04) as the most important factors for predicting CAD (Table 2).

Interventional and non-interventional methods to detect atherosclerosis are widely used in clinical practice. CIMT measurement has been recommended by the American Heart Association as the most useful method to identify atherosclerosis [10]. CIMT can be measured by B-mode ultrasonography.

There are several prospective epidemiologic studies including the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study [11] and the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) [12], which have supported a direct correlation of CIMT with myocardial infarction and stroke risk in patients without cardiovascular disease history. The ARIC Study was conducted in 15,792 individuals between 5 and 65 years of age in 4 different regions of the USA between 1987 and 1989. The baseline CIMT was measured and measurements were repeated at 4-7 year intervals by carotid B mode ultrasonography in this study. An increase in CIMT was correlated with an increased risk for CAD. The CHS was initiated in 1988, and the relationship of CIMT with risk of myocardial infarction and stroke was investigated in 4,476 subjects ≤65 years of age. At the end of approximately 6 years of follow-up, CIMT measurements were correlated with cardiovascular events.

Paroi artérielle et Risque Cardiovasculaire in Asia Africa/Middle East and Latin America (PARC-AALA) is another important large-scale study, in which 79 centers from countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America participated, and the distribution of CIMT according to different ethnic groups and its association with the Framingham cardiovascular score was investigated [13]. Multi-linear regression analysis revealed that an increased Framingham cardiovascular score was associated with CIMT, and carotid plaque independent of geographic differences.

Cahn et al. [14] prospectively followed-up 152 patients with coronary artery disease for 6-11 months by carotid artery ultrasonography and noted 22 vascular events (myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, stroke, and coronary angioplasty) within this time period. They concluded that carotid atherosclerosis measured by this non-interventional method has prognostic significance in coronary artery patients.

In the Rotterdam study, Bots et al. [15] followed 7,983 patients >55 years of age for a mean period of 4.6 years, and reported 194 incident myocardial infarctions within this period. CIMT was significantly higher in the myocardial infarction group compared to the other group.

In a study from our country, Demircan et al. [16] found that the CIMT of patients with acute coronary syndrome were significantly increased compared to patients with stable angina pectoris. It has been reported in another study that a maximal CIMT value of 0.956 mm had 85.7% sensitivity and 85.1% specificity to predict angiographic CAD [9].

Our study group consisted of patients admitted to the cardiology outpatient clinic with symptoms of stable angina pectoris. The present study showed CIMT was higher in patients with significant CAD than in patients with noncritical coronary lesions. Regression analysis revealed that thickening of the mean intima-media complex more than 1.0 was predictive of significant CAD our patients. There was incremental significant increase in CIMT with the number coronary vessel involved.

In accordance with the literature, we found that CIMT was significantly higher in the presence of CAD. Furthermore, CIMT was increased as the number of involved vessels increased and the highest CIMT values were noted in patients with left main coronary involvement.

Our study group was small due to involving a single center and symptomatic patients. Since the study was cross-sectional in design, the clinical endpoints were not followed.

The findings of this study show that increase in CIMT is associated with the presence and extent of CAD. Carotid Doppler ultrasonography can be utilized as a valuable screening tool due to its several advantages, including ease of application, reproducibility, low cost and strong correlation with atherosclerosis. In conclusion, we demonstrated the usefulness of carotid intima-media thickness in predicting coronary artery disease but large-scale studies are required to define its role in clinical practice.