scholarly journals Common Carotid Artery Diameter and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight or Obese Postmenopausal Women

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly D. Lloyd ◽  
Emma Barinas-Mitchell ◽  
Lewis H. Kuller ◽  
Rachel H. Mackey ◽  
Eric A. Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Common Carotid Artery ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Lumen Diameter ◽  
Vascular Health ◽  
Cross Sectional

Arterial diameter is an underutilized indicator of vascular health. We hypothesized that interadventitial and lumen diameter of the common carotid artery would be better indicators of vascular health than carotid plaque or intima media thickness (IMT). Participants were 491 overweight or obese, postmenopausal women who were former or current hormone therapy (HT) users, 52–62 years, with waist circumference>80 cm. We evaluated cross-sectional associations of cardiovascular risk factors with carotid measures, by HT status. Former HT users had a worse cardiovascular profile than current HT users: larger adventitial (6.94 mm versus 6.79 mm) and lumen diameter (5.44 mm versus 5.31 mm, bothP<0.01) independent of cardiovascular risk factors; IMT and plaque were similar. Larger diameters were best explained by former HT use, higher pulse pressure, and greater weight. Independent of potential confounders, overweight and obese postmenopausal former HT users had larger carotid diameters than current HT users. Carotid diameter should be considered in studies of HT.

The Effects of an Intensive Lifestyle Modification Program on Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness: A Randomized Trial

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 510-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven G. Aldana ◽  
Roger Greenlaw ◽  
Audrey Salberg ◽  
Ray M. Merrill ◽  
Ron Hager ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Intima Media Thickness ◽  
Media Thickness ◽  
Number Of Patients

Purpose. This study evaluated the effect of the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease on cardiovascular disease as measured by the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery and compared this effect to outcomes from patients participating in traditional cardiac rehabilitation. Design. Randomized clinical trial. Setting. SwedishAmerican Health System. Subjects. Ninety three patients with clinically confirmed coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 46) or traditional cardiac rehabilitation (n = 47). Intervention. Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease. Measures. Ultrasound of the carotid artery and other cardiovascular risk factors were measured at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Analysis. Intent-to-treat analysis. Results. There was no significant reduction in the carotid intima-media thickness of the carotid artery in the Ornish group or the cardiac rehabilitation group. Ornish Program participants had significantly improved dietary habits (p < .001), weight (p < .001), and body mass index (p < .001) as compared with the rehabilitation group. The decrease in the number of patients with angina from baseline to 12 months was 44% in Ornish and 12% in cardiac rehabilitation. Conclusions. The Ornish Program appears to causes improvements in cardiovascular risk factors but does not appear to change the atherosclerotic process as it affects the carotid artery.

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