Risk factors for hypoechoic carotid plaque in healthy physical-examination population

Abstract

Abstract Background We studied the characteristics of carotid ultrasound plaque in a healthy physical-examination population and analyzed the risk factors for hypoechoic carotid plaque for early control and prevention of stroke. Results A total of 1333 healthy physical-examination individuals were included in this study, including 457 females and 876 males. According to the results of carotid artery ultrasound, they were divided into hyperechoic carotid plaque (n = 940) and hypoechoic carotid plaque (n = 393). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that male, alcohol consumption, and low-density lipoprotein were risk factors for hypoechoic carotid plaque. SPSS 25.0 software was used to draw the receive operating characteristic curve and calculate the prediction probability of the risk factor indicators obtained by the multifactor model. The area under the curve was also calculated to be 0.623 (95% CI = 0.591–0.655). Conclusion Male, alcohol consumption, and low-density lipoprotein are risk factors for hypoechoic carotid plaque in a healthy physical-examination population.

Keywords

• Carotid arteriosclerosis
• Hypoechoic carotid plaque
• Hyperechoic carotid plaque
• Healthy physical-examination population
• Risk factors