Detection of early markers of atherosclerosis in men with various levels of risk of cardiovascular complications

to assess rate of additional risk factors, and to elucidate association of early markers of atherosclerosis with total cardiovascular risk in a cohort of working age men.We examined 200 men aged 40-55 years without overt cardiovascular (CV) diseases and with various levels of CV risk. According to level of total CV risk assessed by European SCORE scale subjects were divided into 3 groups: (1) low and moderate risk (SCORE <5%, n=111 [55.5%]), (2) high risk (SCORE more or equal 5 - <10%, n= 57 [28.5%]), (3) very high risk (SCORE 10%, n=32 [16%]). Examination included measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) by duplex scanning, and coronary artery calcium scoring by multispiral computed tomography (MSCT).There was direct relationship between level of CV risk and presence of additional risk factors (hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, left ventricular hypertrophy). Early markers of arterial atherosclerosis were detected in 52, 48, and 32 men in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Increased IMT was found in 53.8, 75, and 100% of subjects, respectively, and differences between groups 2, 3 and 1 were significant. ABI <0.9 (diagnostic for peripheral atherosclerosis) was found in 15.4, 41.7, and 62.5% of subjects in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. According to coronary calcium score (CS) 67.3 and 48% of men in groups 1 and 2, respectively, had very low probability of development of ischemic heart disease (IHD). In group 3 CS 11-100 was 2-3 times more frequent than in other groups. CS 101-400 (associated with moderately high risk of IHD) was found in 6 and 4% of men in groups 3 and 2, and in none of men in group 1.Thus elevation of level of total CV risk was associated with increases of IMT and frequencies of detection of peripheral atherosclerosis as well as of moderately elevated CS.