Normal values correlates of carotid intima- media thickness and affecting parameters in healthy adults

Objective: Early changes in atherosclerosis can be diagnosed by the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement. Normal range of CIMT in healthy subjects has not been studied yet in our country. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure the CIMT in healthy individuals and investigate affecting parameters of CIMT. Methods: Overall, 2298 subjects, aged 18 to 92 years were undergone CIMT measurement in this observational cohort study. 151 healthy adult subjects, aged 20 to 79 year without atherosclerotic risk factors, normal body mass index and normal metabolic parameters were selected to establish normative CIMT values. Correlations between CIMT and atherosclerotic risk factors were evaluated in the Turkish population. The independent variables associated with CIMT were evaluated with multiple linear regression analysis. Results: CIMT value was 0.458±0.116 mm in males and 0.47±0.104 mm in females. Mean values of CIMT (in mm) for healthy reference sample aged 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-79 years were 0.402; 0.466; 0.492; 0.586; 0.692 and 0.733, respectively. CIMT increased significantly (p 0.001) by 0.066 mm, in every decade. Correlates of CIMT were age, visceral fat level, fasting serum glucose, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age was the single independent predictor of CIMT thickness in healthy individuals (β=0.007, 95% CI: 0.006-0.008, p 0.001). Conclusion: CIMT was 0.458±0.116 mm in men and 0.47±0.104 mm in Turkish healthy adults. Age was the only predictor of CIMT. CIMT measurement can be used in the assessment of early atherosclerosis burden in adults.