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Background Population-based studies of ultrasound measures of carotid atherosclerosis are informative about future risks of cardiovascular disease. Design Cross-sectional studies of carotid artery atherosclerosis in 24,822 Chinese adults from the China Kadoorie Biobank and 2579 Europeans from the UK Biobank. Methods Mean intima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries and presence of carotid artery plaque were examined in the China Kadoorie Biobank study. The carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) findings in Chinese (mean age 59 years) were compared with a European population (mean age 62 years). Results Overall, the mean cIMT in Chinese was 0.70 mm (SD 0.16) and increased with age by 0.08 mm (SE 0.008) per 10-years older age. About 31% of the Chinese had carotid plaques and the prevalence varied 10-fold with age (6% at 40-49 to 63% at 70-89 years) and four-fold by region (range, 14%-57%). After adjustment for age, sex and region, plaque prevalence was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (36% vs. 28%) and two-fold higher in individuals with systolic blood pressure ≥160 mmHg than those with systolic blood pressure <120 mmHg (44% vs. 22%) in the China Kadoorie Biobank study. Mean cIMT was similar in the younger Chinese and European adults, but increased more steeply with age in the Chinese ( p = 0.002). Conclusions About one-third of Chinese adults had carotid plaques. The rate of progression of carotid atherosclerosis with age was more extreme in the Chinese compared with the European population, highlighting the need for more intensive strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention in China.

Original publication

DOI

10.1177/2047487317689973

Type

Journal article

Journal

Eur J Prev Cardiol

Publication Date

04/2017

Volume

24

Pages

647 - 656

Keywords

Atherosclerosis, carotid intima-media thickness, plaques, Adult, Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Asian People, Carotid Artery Diseases, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Cerebrovascular Disorders, China, Cross-Sectional Studies, Disease Progression, Female, Health Status, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Myocardial Ischemia, Prevalence, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Time Factors, United Kingdom, White People