Relation of age and sex with carotid intima media thickness in healthy children

Background/aim: To investigate the age- and sex-associated carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) changes in healthy children to determine the age- and sex-specific normal range of values for childhood. Materials and methods: This study examined 91 healthy school-age children aged 7–15 years prospectively. Standardized sonographic cIMT measurements and analyses were performed. Body mass index and blood pressure were obtained, and atherosclerotic risk factors were investigated. Age- and sex-specific cIMT measurements for different age groups were alculated and the relation with sex was investigated. Results: Regarding the total study group, mean cIMT measurements for age groups 7–9, 10–12, and 13–15 years were 4.1 ± 0.5 mm, 4.4 ± 0.6 mm, and 4.6 ± 0.4 mm, respectively. cIMT did not differ between boys and girls in the same age group. Age related analyses showed significant variations among the age groups with positive correlation between cIMT and age. Conclusion: Our results suggest that age-related physiologic thickening of the carotid artery intima-media occurs not only in adults but also in children and that sex is not a factor for cIMT differences in childhood.