Cor Vasa 2022, 64(1):6-10 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2021.127

Carotid artery screening in asymptomatic individuals of different ethnic origins

Metin Onur Beyaz^a, Mehmet Akif Onalan^b, Didem Melis Öztas^c, Murat Ugurlucan^d

^a Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey

^b Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

^c Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

^d Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey

Background and aims: Certain chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypercholesterolemia, and smoking were well defined as a risk factor for carotid stenosis. However, the development of carotid stenosis in different ethnic groups has not been researched adequately. This study aims to evaluate the carotid artery stenosis in patients of different ethnic origins.

Methods: This prospective study included 246 (61.2%) Turkish natives and 153 (39.8%) Syrian immigrants, and carried out during March and September 2018 in Istanbul. All of the 399 participants were between the age of 50 and 65 years, and have at least one of the risk factors of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, DM, obesity, heavy socio-economic stress, and smoking. Patients were examined for bilateral carotid arterial system with Doppler ultrasound.

Results: The mean age of the patients were 54.2±7.2, and there were 50.4% of women. Hypertension was the foremost risk factor of both groups (41.1% vs. 47.7%, p = 0.596). Smoking was higher among Turkish natives (p = 0.022). Hyperlipidemia, DM, and stress were similar between the groups (p >0.05). The overweight and obesity rates were also similar among Turkish natives and Syrian immigrants (p = 0.071 and p = 0.279). Patients with mild (<50%), moderate (50-70%) and severe (>70%) carotid stenosis were 332 (83.2%), 33 (8.3%) and 34 (8.6%). No statistical significance was found between the two ethnic groups in terms of the severity of carotid stenosis (p >0.05).

Conclusion: Syrian immigrants and Turkish natives have a similar rate of moderate and severe carotid artery stenosis. It can be explained by racial similarity and having a similar risk factor.

Keywords: Carotid artery, Carotid stenosis, Doppler ultrasound, Racial difference

Received: February 17, 2021; Revised: February 17, 2021; Accepted: November 10, 2021; Published: February 22, 2022  Show citation