Relationship between properties of carotid plaques and common risk factors among community high-risk population

Objective To investigate the relationship between properties of carotid plaques and common risk factors among community high-risk population.Methods From January 2008 to August 2010,the data of 235 subjects from atherosclerotic high-risk population in local communities were collected.The carotid plaques of the subjects were confirmed by color ultrasound.Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the relationship between the properties of carotid plaques (flat,soft,hard and ulcer plaque) and the common risk factors.Results Univariate analyses showed that subjects over 80 years old had much more ulcer plaques than younger ones (P=0.042); females and hypertensive subjects had significantly more soft plaques than males and non-hypertensive ones separately (P=0.000 and P=0.027,respectively).Multivariate analyses discovered that age (older) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were the key risk factors influencing ulcer plaque formation (ORase=1.043,P=0.030 and ORSBP=1.026,P=0.024,respectively); female and SBP were the protective factors influencing the soft plaque formation (ORsex=0.321,P=0.000 and ORSBP=0.970,P=0.006,respectively).Conclusion Female and hypertensive patients have less soft carotid plaques,and those over 80 years old have more ulcer plaques. Key words: Carotid plaque;  Risk factor;  High-risk population