• Kai Zhang, Qiuxing Lin, Tianyu Zhang, Dandan Guo, and Li Cao.
• Department of Geriatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital , Tianjin, China.
• Postgrad Med. 2020 Sep 1; 132 (7): 650-656.

ObjectivesCarotid artery stenosis (CAS) is an established risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. However, the contemporary prevalence and risk factors of CAS in asymptomatic rural Chinese individuals, especially low-income populations, remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the present prevalence and risk factors of CAS in a low-income Chinese population.MethodsA total of 3126 people aged ≥ 45 years without history of stroke or cardiovascular disease were recruited for this study. B-mode ultrasonography was performed to evaluate the presence of CAS. We used multivariate analysis to determine potential risk factors for CAS.ResultsThe overall prevalence of CAS in this population was 6.7%, with a prevalence of 8.8% for men and 5.0% for women. The risk of CAS increased with older age and a higher level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) (all P < 0.05). Each 1-mmHg increase in SBP increased the risk of CAS by 0.011 times, each 1-mmol/L increase in LDL-C increased the risk of CAS by 0.192 times, and each 1-mmol/L increase in FBG increased the risk of CAS by 0.067 times. In addition, the risk of CAS increased 52.9% in men compared to that in women, increased 100.2% in current drinkers compared to that in never drinkers, and increased 38.9% in patients with diabetes compared to those without diabetes (all P < 0.05).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the prevalence of CAS remains high in low-income individuals. Male sex, older age, current drinking, diabetes, and high levels of LDL-C, SBP, and FBG increase the risk of CAS. Thus, to prevent cerebrovascular disease and reduce the severe disease-associated burden for low-income individuals, there is a definitive need to control the risk factors of CAS.

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