J Korean Med Sci.  2011 Sep;26(9):1173-1177. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.9.1173.

Prevalence of Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis in Korea Based on Health Screening Population

• Roh YN
• Woo SY
• Kim N
• Kim S
• Kim YW
• Kim DI

• KMID: 1779390
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.9.1173

Abstract

We attempted to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of carotid artery stenosis in Korea. Twenty thousand seven hundred twelve individuals who underwent carotid artery ultrasonography for health screening between March 2005 and March 2010 were retrospectively evaluated. The population was divided into four groups, according to the degree of stenosis, as Group A, below 29%; Group B, 30% to 49%; Group C, 50% to 74%; Group D, above 75%. The medical records of the individuals were investigated, and Fisher's exact test, chi-square tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests and a binary logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis. The prevalence of carotid stenosis was Group B, 5.5%; Group C, 0.9%; Group D, 0.1%. Old age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease were significantly higher in Groups C and D (P = 0.001, 0.001, 0.001, 0.048, and 0.001, respectively). Among the males aged over 65 yr, the prevalence of carotid stenosis > or = 50% and > or = 30% were 4.0% and 18.2%, respectively. Asymptomatic carotid stenosis is not uncommon in Korea. Carotid ultrasonography is necessary for people with above-listed risk factors.

Keyword

Carotid arteries; Stenosis; Prevalence

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Carotid Stenosis/complications/*epidemiology/ultrasonography
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Hypertension/complications
Male
Middle Aged
Myocardial Ischemia/complications
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Sex Factors

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