Abstract
Introduction
We studied the determinants of carotid atherosclerosis in urban-dwelling Australian
Aboriginals at high risk of atherosclerotic mortality and morbidity.
Methods
Cross-sectional study of self-selected adult Australian Aboriginals. Participants
(n = 602) aged 18–74 years had risk factor assessment and carotid ultrasound to determine
carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) and the presence of plaque. The upper quartile
(>0.71 mm in males and >0.62 mm in females) was used as a measure of increased carotid IMT.
Results
Over 80% of participants were overweight or obese; the prevalence of diabetes was
25%. Age was the major predictor of thick IMT, OR 3.0 (95% CI 2.0–4.5) per decade
for males and OR 6.3 (3.3–12.0) for females. Waist circumference and blood glucose
were independent predictors of IMT for men, with hypertension, pack-years of smoking,
diabetes, and cholesterol ratio additional predictors for women. Plaque was highly
prevalent (>40%) in this relatively young population and was predicted by increasing
age, a history of smoking and total cholesterol/HDL ratio, but not sex.
Conclusions
Urban-dwelling Aboriginal Australians are at increased risk for early atherosclerosis.
In this study an excess of obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors were the important
contributors to increased IMT carotid atherosclerosis, but not inflammatory markers
or other novel risk factors.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 24, 2006
Accepted:
May 3,
2006
Received in revised form:
April 24,
2006
Received:
December 20,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
