Correlation of Multiple Risk Factors and Combined Coronary and Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease

Introduction: epidemiological data suggests worldwide burden of clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis, (i.e. coronary heart dis¬ease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular diseases). Combined coronary and carotid disease is the most presented type of the polyvascular atherosclerotic disease. The goal is to evaluate the influence and cor¬relation of multiple risk factors in combined coronary and carotid atherosclerotic disease and to compare them to isolated coronary atherosclerotic disease. Material and meth¬ods: we included total of 124 consecutive patients with established coronary and ca¬rotid atherosclerotic disease. Patients were divided in two groups; group with isolated coronary atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) (n=60) with clinicaly established atheroscle¬rosis on coronary vascular bed. Group with combined carotid and coronary atheroscle¬rotic disease (CCAD) (n=64), had clinicaly established combined atherosclerosis of two vascular beds, coronary and carotid. We performed clinical assessment, laboratory tests, and specific cardiac investigations, (i.e. invasive and non-invasive diagnostic pro¬cedures). Results: in ICAD group we found high significance in multiple risk factors; total cholesterol 92,6%, obesity 80%, and elevated fibrinogen 77,5%. In CCAD group we found high significance of multiple risk factors; total cholesterol (82,5%), elevated fibrinogen (82,5%) and tobacco smoking of 77,5%. In CCAD group in males most assessed risk factor was smoking 88,4%, and in females total cholesterol 92,8%. Comparing ICAD and CCAD group we found significantly more diabetes mellitus type 2 in CCAD group. Conclusion: in both groups of patients we found markedly increase risk factors especially arterial hypertension, smoking and total cholesterol level. Multiple regression analysis showed significant cor¬relation of patients age as a predictor of arterial hypertension. In other risk factors; total cholesterol, obesity, diabetes mellitus and fibrinogen, we found no statistical significance related to patientsʹ age.