Prevalence and correlates of vascular plaques and high intima thickness in a group of patients with high cardiovascular risk in Cameroon

INTRODUCTION: carotid and femoral intima-media thickness (IMT) and atherosclerotic plaques are considered as markers of generalized atherosclerosis and as independent predictors of cardiovascular events and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates between carotid and femoral intima-media thickness and plaques in patients with major cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs). METHODS: we carried out a cross-sectional study at the Yaoundé Central Hospital between December 2017 and May 2018. B-mode ultrasound was used to assess for the presence of plaques and also measure the IMT at the carotid and femoral arteries in patients with CVRFs. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between ultrasound findings (presence of plaques or IMT > 0.9mm) and cardiovascular risk factors. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: amongst the 71 patients, 43.7% were male and 56.3% were female. The mean age was 61.6 ± 8.4 years and ranged from 40 to 75 years. Thirty-nine (54.9%) participants had carotid atherosclerotic plaques and 33 (46.5%) participants had femoral artery plaques. The plaque burden was higher in the carotid arteries. Plaques at one or more artery sites were seen in 67.6% of participants. An IMT ≥ 0.9 mm was seen in only 1.4 to 2.8% of participants. In the multivariable analysis using binary logistic regression, age > 50 years (males) or 60 years (females) (aOR: 11.3 [95% CI: 2.2 - 56.8], p=0.002) and presence of dyslipidemia (aOR: 3.6 [95% CI: 1.2 - 11], p=0.043) were associated with carotid artery plaques, while presence of dyslipidemia (aOR: 4.8 [95% CI1.8 - 13.3], p=0.004) and high cardiovascular risk profile (10-year risk> 20%) (aOR: 4.2 [95% CI: 1.2 - 13.2], p=0.0495) were associated with femoral artery plaques. CONCLUSION: plaques were more frequent than an IMT > 0.9 mm, with a higher plaque burden in the carotid arteries. Plaques were associated with advanced age, dyslipidemia, and a high cardiovascular risk profile.