Comparative Analysis of Common Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness and Lagrangian Wall Strain in Relation to Cardiovascular Risk Factors Using Ultrasound.

Abstract

Objective: This study examines the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), carotid artery wall strain indices measured via ultrasound, and their associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a low CVD risk population.

Methods: Eighty healthy volunteers (median age 35 y, 50% female) underwent carotid ultrasound imaging for CIMT and strain indices. Participants' clinical data, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, hemoglobin A1c, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure, body mass index and smoking status, were collected. Spearman Rho correlations assessed relationships between CIMT and strain indices. Multiple linear regression examined associations between strain indices and CVD risk factors, while Mann-Whitney U tests compared median differences between sexes. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS.

Results: No significant associations were seen between CIMT measurements and strain parameters. After adjustment for CVD risk factors, several strain indices were significantly associated with CVD risk factors. Age was inversely related to all strain parameters. SBP was significantly positively related to axial and shear strain. Hemoglobin A1c was significantly inversely related to most axial and shear strain (all p values <0.05). These relationships are consistent with previous findings in the literature. We also found that BMI was positively related to all strain parameters, which may be due to increased compliance with more gradual arterial remodeling.

Conclusion: Strain parameters remained significantly related to several CVD risk factors in fully adjusted models. All strain parameters are associated with age. Axial and shear parameters are associated with SBP and hemoglobin A1c. These findings suggest that strain measures may represent early mechanical changes in the arterial wall and have potential for use as a research tool to characterize arterial health.