Assessment of relationship between carotid intima-media thickness and coronary angiographic findings

Abstract

Background: To assess relationship between carotid intima-media thickness and coronary angiographic findings. Methodology: One hundred ten patients with stable angina pectoris of either gender was selected and were subjected to coronary angiography. Based on it, patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 was patients without a noncritical coronary lesion, and group II was patients having at least one lesion more than 50% within the main branches of the coronary arteries. Results: Out of 110 patients, males were 60 (54.5%) and females were 50 (45.5%). Diabetes was present in 12% in group I and 28% in group II. Hypertension was seen in 38% in group I and 60% in group II. Smoking was present in 56% in group I and 62% in group II and hyperlipidemia was seen in 17% in group I and 48% in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). The mean carotid artery thickness in group I was 0.72 mm, in group II was 1.5 mm, in group IIa was 1.3 mm, in group IIb was 1.7 mm and in group IIc was 1.8 mm. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). The major risk factors for coronary artery disease was CIMT (>1 mm) (P- 0.01) and hypertension (P- 0.04). Conclusion: Increase in CIMT was associated with the presence and extent of CAD.